SEA Games: Singapore's silat team aims to win at least three gold medals
They are targeting a haul of up to five gold medals when they head to Kuala Lumpur for the SEA Games, said the Singapore Silat Federation (PERSISI).
Sheik Alau’ddin, chief executive of PERSISI, told Yahoo News Singapore that his team have been training hard and despite an expected challenge from host country Malaysia, he is quietly confident that his team can end the tournament on the top of the podium.
Sheik Alau’ddin is banking his hopes on two of the current silat world champions, Shakir Juanda and Sheik Farhan to spearhead Singapore’s challenge this August.
The duo lifted the world titles in Bali, Indonesia in December 2016. Shakir was crowned the winner of Class I (85-90kg) while Sheik Farhan lifted the title of Class J (90-95kg).
“We have a target of three gold medals but we are also confident that we might come back with up to five. We have the facilities and equipment and we are receiving strong support from SportSG and MCCY. I believe that the team can deliver and we want to make it happen,” said Sheik Alau’ddin who is the father of Sheik Farhan.
Sheik Alau’ddin told Yahoo News Singapore that the team’s preparations are on track and that they are training twice a day, five times a week.
While 20-year-old Sheik Farhan is “confident” of his chances, he is also increasing the intensity of the training to better prepare himself.
He said that he is not concerned with him being the defending world champion and instead is more keen on bringing back a gold medal for Singapore.
“I am not thinking of the title at all. That is over. It is about winning the gold medal for me. I am starting from zero all over again and I am focusing on the gold medal, it doesn’t matter that I am the world champion,” he said.
His sentiments were echoed by fellow world champion Shakir, 28.
Shakir, 28, who has represented Singapore in numerous overseas tournament said that his training schedule is on track and he has been able to stay injury-free so far. In 2015, he won a bronze at the SEA Games in the male artistic doubles.
“I take the victory at the world championship as a thing of the past and for now I am focused on winning my first ever SEA Games gold medal for the country. I cannot go to the competition thinking that I am the world champion. I am here to win,” he said.
The silat competition will be held between 24 August and 29 August.
