KUCHING (5 MARCH): The Sarawak Premier International Silat Championship 2023 (SPISC) closed its curtains today as the Malaysian contingent showcased their dominance in the ring after claiming notable victories against their respective opponents in the final held at the Kuching Indoor Stadium in Sarawak today.

The Malaysian contingent ended their six days combative run by becoming overall champions of the maiden SPISC 2023 championship with a total collection of 11 golds, 2 silvers and 2 bronze medals.

The national team’s gold hunting mission began with the victory through Afiq Aniq Fazly who appeared agile to knock down his opponent from Singapore, Muhd Syahiran Jeffry in the senior putra G category.

Afiq Aniq who’s under the guidance and tutelage of the former world champion, Siti Rahmah Nasir won with a result of 25-15, thus gifting the first gold to the national contingent.

The intense competition for the senior B girls’ category that followed saw the national athlete, Norsyakirah Muksin forcing to exert her energy against her opponent, Syaza Insyirah Roslan from Singapore.

The two fighters often counterattacked, but Norsyakirah managed to control the situation, thus witnessing him win with a result of 19-13 for the country’s second gold.

Mohamad Hazim Amzad embodied a golden glow for the national squad through his victory in the final match of the Putra C senior category. Hazim defeated Singaporean silat exponent, Aniq’ Asri Mohd Yazid with a result of 25-15.

The excellent streak of the contingent continued and this time it is the turn of Muhammad Izzul Irfan Marzuki to record his name as a gold contributor. He won with a result of 30-28 over the home wrestler, Mohd Ashraf Amirul Razaman in the putra D senior category.

The three other gold medals that the national squad successfully acquired through the victory of Siti Shazwana Ajak (Putri D senior); Nor Farah Mazlan (Putri A senior) and Mohd Abdul Latif Mazakir in the Putra H senior category.

The final game saw Muhd Amizul Azmi Mohammad Ridzuan fell to Terengganu’s experienced silat exponent Mohd Afifi Nazri in the senior Putra A category.

The national head coach, Siti Rahmah Nasir further commended on the achievements of the athletes and iterated on accomplishing their mission.

“They have shown seriousness and SPISC is indeed the is the best platform for us to prepare ahead of the Cambodian SEA Games in May.

“I hope all the exponents who partake at SPISC championship will represent the country at the SEA Games in the coming days, as I believe that they are ready both mentally and physically,” said Siti Rahman who is also a former world champion.

Meanwhile, Sarawak’s pursuit for gold medal got underway through the success of Nor Azeman Pie’e who recorded a 26-13 victory over his opponent from Negeri Sembilan, Muhammad Iman Zhafran Abdul Hamid in the putra B junior category.

The Bumi Kenyalang contingent’s impressive run was halted for a moment when Mohd Shahril Fazly was forced bring back a silver for his efforts as he fell to Singapore’s Zulhilmi Zul’irfan in the junior putra G category 25-44

Tables were quickly turned through Sarawak’s Prettia Omeera Abdul Rahman’s energetic performance as she narrowly won 56-54 against Perlis’s Amna Wong Daniel Wong in the junior F category.

Prettia’s success was continued by Josh Chua who won in style in the final event for the putra C junior category. Josh Chua won by TKO 54-47 over his Indonesian opponent, Dapa Riki Ananda, thus awarding Sarawak’s third gold medal.

Sarawak’s fourth gold medal in the morning session was obtained through the victory of Sharifah Nurhalimatun Wan Mohamad who recorded an emphatic 42-12 victory over Brunei Darussalam’s Dyg Muna Awg Munir in the senior Girls G category.

The finals for the junior B girls’ category saw Sarawak’s wrestlers end the fight with gold and silver medals.

Two Sarawak representatives competed in the final in the category, with Nurul Maisyarah winning the gold after defeating her teammate, Nur Hazeerah Syafiqah Suffian with a result of 40-26.

The inaugural edition of the Sarawak Premier International Silat Championship, which has a participation entry from 21 local and international silat contingents reached its climax today as Malaysia finished as overall champions with (11 Gold, 2 Silver and 2 Bronze) while bringing away the championship cash prize of USD 20,000.

Sarawak finished its campaign and brought back USD 4,000 as overall runners up with (9 Gold, 9 Silver and 9 Bronze) while Singapore brought back USD 2,000 finished its campaign as second runner up with (8 Gold , 10 Silver and 5 Bronze).