AL JUFFERI AND SIX OTHER MALAYSIANS TRIUMPH IN WORLD PENCAK SILAT CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS

MALACCA (31 July 2022): Mohd. Al Jufferi Jamari achieved his fourth world championship in style as he won the closing bout of the 19th World Pencak Silat Championship. The final day also witnessed some exhilarating action at Ayer Keroh as the national silat contingent won four golds in the "Tanding" event.

The glorious success of the silat exponent, who hails from Pahang, met the Malaysian National Silat Federation's (PESAKA) target of winning seven gold medals in the championship. Malaysia won three gold medals in yesterday's artistic event while bringing back five silver medals in the whole championship.

Competing in the Class F (70-75kg) category, Mohd. Al Jufferi was as cool as a cucumber in spite of fighting in front of more than 1,000 spectators including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Mohd. Al Jufferi received a strong challenge from the 2018 Asian Games gold medallist, Iqbal Chandra Pratama, as the Indonesian fighter kept hindering Mohd. Al Jufferi's gold medal chances with vicious blows in the early part of the match.

The tables were quickly turned in a few minutes as the four-time SEA Games champion dominated Iqbal in the last two rounds to win 35-21 in style.

Meanwhile, three more gold medals were contributed by the national contingent at the Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC) through victories by Muhammad Robial Sobri, Nor Izzatul Fazlia Mohamad Tahir and Nor Farah Mazlan.

Muhammad Robial acquired his first world championship amid confusion after defeating Singapore's Muhammad Nurshahfareeq Shahrudin. The Singaporean was given a five-point deduction and then disqualified upon re-evaluation by the jury for illegally punching Muhammad Robial on the chin while leading 23-16. Muhammad Robial, who hails from Kedah, lost consciousness on stage and was eventually taken to the hospital.

The gallant success of the national contingent was followed by Nor Farah's hard-fought victory over another opponent from the "Lion City", Nadhrah Sahrin, in the women's Class A (45-50kg) category. Having finished as runner-up in the 2018 championship in Singapore, Nor Farah applied her vast experience to claim her first-ever world title with a 25-23 victory.

The national contingent, buoyed by having nine finalists on the final day of the "Tanding" event, saw Nor Izzatul Fazlia kick-start Malaysia's quest for gold by defeating Vietnam's Lo Thi Tuoi 20-0 in the Open 2 (100kg>) category.

Silver medals were further obtained through Aizad Akbar, who lost 17-49 to Indonesia's Khoirudin Mustakim in Class A (45-50kg), while Mohammad Khairi Adib Azhar withdrew in the middle of the match against Singapore's Aniq 'Asri Mohammad Yazid.

Meanwhile, Siti Rahmah Mohamed Nasir's desire to extend her five-time world championship record was stalled as she lost 35-60 in the Class F (70-75kg) category to Vietnam's Quang Thi Thu Nghia. This marked her second consecutive defeat to the Vietnamese after losing her decisive gold medal match in the Hanoi SEA Games.

Siti Shazwana Ajak narrowly lost 20-25 to Indonesia's Atifa Fismawati in the Class D (60-65kg) category to gift Malaysia its fifth silver medal in the "Tanding" event, while Olivia Chong was tamed by Thailand's Puntiyakon Pimpisan.

The 19th World Pencak Silat Championship, which drew entries from 40 nations across the globe, reached its climax today as Indonesia finished as overall champions (11 gold, 9 silver and 8 bronze), Malaysia finished as overall runners-up (7 gold, 8 silver and 8 bronze) and Vietnam finished as second runners-up (6 gold, 4 silver and 11 bronze).