Pencak silat and eSports: a guide to the most fascinating 2018 Asian Games events
The 2018 Asian Games begin on Saturday in Jakarta with a busy schedule of 40 events that go some way to representing the diversity that exists in the world’s biggest continent. Alongside the usual Olympic sports wellknown to a global audience, medals will also be handed out for climbing and skateboarding – which will be included in the Olympics for the first time in 2020 – and other, perhaps less familiar disciplines. Here is a guide to some of them:
Pencak silat
One origin story of this ancient Indonesian martial art – making its Asian Games debut in Indonesia – has a woman, perhaps in Sumatra, witnessing a fight between a tiger and a giant hawk and then using the same techniques to fend off a group of drunks.
However it started, it soon spread throughout the country and to other parts of southeast Asia. And now, pencak silat – an umbrella term used to describe a variety of related disciplines that sometimes features knives and take in 800 different styles – has begun to be noticed elsewhere. In some parts of Indonesia, it is performed during wedding ceremonies and public holidays and will be familiar to local audiences.
This may be the first time it has featured at an Asian Games, but in the SEA (Southeast Asia) Games, it has been known to get feisty. In the 2017 edition Indonesia accused winners Malaysia of cheating, saying that the hosts had an inflated points score in the men’s artistic doubles. “They did not even deserve a third place, not even a fourth,” said Indonesian team manager Edhy Prabowo. “I knew Malaysia would cheat. “Sepak takraw
Southeast Asia is home to many fierce debates as to which country can lay claim to various inventions, be it a famous food, a fashion or a sport, and sepak takraw – the name itself is a compromise between Malaysia and Thailand – falls well within this category.
The game can best be described as foot-volleyball and has lofty ambitions of becoming an Olympic sport but needs to broaden its appeal in order to do so. In often eye-watering displays of agility, players launch themselves into mid-air, twisting their bodies at incredible angles to kick, head, chest or knee a rattan ball into the opposing court.
Thailand is traditionally strong and has won 22 out of the 33 golds on offer since the sport was included in the 1990 tournament. The country wants to at least match its four-gold haul from 2014 but it won’t be easy given that only six – four for men and two for women – are available. eSports
This is not a gold medal event this time around, but rather a demonstration event ahead of the next Games in 2022 when medals will be on offer. If all goes well, the 2024 Olympics will be next in enthusiasts’ crosshairs, and huge interest is expected with the industry entering a boom period and revenues expected to reach $1.65bn by 2020.
Twenty million players attempted to qualify for the Fifa eWorld Cup in early August that was eventually won by Mosaad Al Dossary, the young Saudi Arabian who pocketed $250,000 for his talents.
Two of the six games to be played are team battles – Arena of Valor and League of Legends (which takes place over three days) – with the others individual. It all ends with Pro Evolution Soccer – and no doubt more debate over the validity of e-sports’ claim to be classed as an actual “sport”.
Contract bridge
Host nation Indonesia pushed for the card game to make its debut in the tournament due to a belief the country, with its strong traditions in bridge, can win gold. The decision in 2016 to include it this year was welcomed by bridge associations around Asia though it remains to be seen what kind of live spectacle it will provide to the casual viewer at the 2,600-seat venue, or for those watching on television.
Malaysia aim to stand in Indonesia’s way and have their oldest athlete in this event – 81-year-old card player Lee Hung Fong. She is, incidentally, 70 years older than the youngest at these Games, the Malaysian skateboarder Ian Nuriman Amri.
Kabaddi
There can’t be many more fun games to play than kabaddi. Originating in India almost 4,000 years ago according to some, it is as simple as it gets. Two teams of seven stand at opposing ends of a court and one player embarks on a raid into enemy territory. Points are earned for tagging as many as the other team as possible before returning home without being tackled.
Unsurprisingly, India, which launched a pro league in 2014 that has taken the sport to the next level, dominate and have won every gold in the men’s event since its introduction in 1990 and both women’s so far. The country is pushing for Olympic inclusion and said last month that the game had spread to 33 nations. It needs to reach 75 across four continents (for men) to be considered.
Kurash
A form of wrestling that originated in Uzbekistan in ancient times, kurash was a little more recently used by Timur (aka Tamerlane) in the 14th century to train troops whose military exploits built an empire which once stretched from Persia across to Central Asia.
These days, the sport can be seen all over Uzbekistan, especially during public holidays and, as there is no need for any special equipment, anyone can take part. Increasing its inclusiveness is the fact that participants can only wrestle while standing and can only throw or trip their opponent.
Another sport to make its debut at the Asian Games, there are seven golds available – four for men and three for women – in different weight categories. Uzbekistan, understandably, will be keen to remind the continent where it all started.