MALAYSIA CONTINGENT TRIUMPHANT AT THE SARAWAK PREMIER INTERNATIONAL SILAT CHAMPIONSHIP 2023 FINALS

KUCHING (5 March): The Sarawak Premier International Silat Championship 2023 (SPISC) drew to a close today, with the Malaysian contingent showcasing their dominance in the finals at Stadium Perpaduan, Petra Jaya.

The Malaysian contingent finished as overall champions of the inaugural SPISC with a total of 11 golds, 2 silvers and 2 bronzes.

The national team's gold rush began with Afiq Aniq Fazly, who overcame Singapore's Muhd Syahiran Jeffry in the Putra G senior category.

Afiq Aniq, who is coached by former world champion Siti Rahmah Nasir, won 25-15 to give the national contingent its first gold.

The Putri B senior final that followed was an intense contest, with national athlete Norsyakirah Muksin pushed hard by Singapore's Syaza Insyirah Roslan.

The two fighters traded attacks throughout, but Norsyakirah managed to control the bout and won 19-13 for the country's second gold.

Mohamad Hazim Amzad then delivered gold for the national squad in the Putra C senior final, defeating Singapore's Aniq' Asri Mohd Yazid 25-15.

The contingent's excellent streak continued as Muhammad Izzul Irfan Marzuki won 30-28 over home exponent Mohd Ashraf Amirul Razaman in the Putra D senior category.

The national squad's three other golds came through Siti Shazwana Ajak (Putri D senior), Nor Farah Mazlan (Putri A senior) and Mohd Abdul Latif Mazakir (Putra H senior).

In the Putra A senior final, Muhd Amizul Azmi Mohammad Ridzuan fell to Terengganu's experienced Mohd Afifi Nazri.

National head coach Siti Rahmah Nasir said the athletes' achievements met the targets they had set.

"They have shown seriousness, and SPISC is the best platform for us to prepare ahead of the SEA Games in Cambodia in May.

"All the exponents who competed at SPISC are the contingent that will represent the country at the SEA Games, and overall, they are ready both mentally and physically," said Siti Rahmah, who is also a former world champion.

Meanwhile, Sarawak's gold medal hunt got under way through Nor Azeman Pie'e, who recorded a 26-13 victory over Negeri Sembilan's Muhammad Iman Zhafran Abdul Hamid in the Putra B junior category.

The Bumi Kenyalang contingent's run was briefly halted when Mohd Shahril Fazly had to settle for silver after losing 25-44 to Singapore's Zulhilmi Zul'irfan in the Putra G junior category.

Sarawak quickly bounced back through Prettia Omeera Abdul Rahman's energetic performance, as she narrowly beat Perlis's Amna Wong Daniel Wong 56-54 in the Putri F junior category.

Josh Chua continued Prettia's success in style in the Putra C junior final, winning by TKO 54-47 over Indonesia's Dapa Riki Ananda to give Sarawak its third gold.

Sarawak's fourth gold of the morning session came through Sharifah Nurhalimatun Wan Mohamad, who recorded an emphatic 42-12 win over Brunei Darussalam's Dyg Muna Awg Munir in the Putri G junior category.

The Putri B junior final was an all-Sarawak affair, with Nurul Maisyarah winning gold after defeating teammate Nur Hazeerah Syafiqah Suffian 40-26.

The inaugural edition of the championship, which featured 21 local and international silat contingents, reached its climax with Malaysia finishing as overall champions (11 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze) and taking home the USD20,000 champions' prize.

Sarawak finished as overall runners-up (9 gold, 9 silver, 9 bronze) and received USD4,000, while Singapore placed third (8 gold, 10 silver, 5 bronze) and received USD2,000.