Controversy mars pencak silat debut
JAKARTA: A huge controversy is brewing at the Asian Games after Indonesia’s medals tally zoomed past that of some other countries, courtesy its massive haul in pencak silat where it has amassed 14 out of the 16 available gold medals and a bronze.
Pencak silat’s debut at the Asian Games has been contentious. The huge haul in the discipline, an ancient form of martial arts confined to Indonesia – legend has it that it originated when a woman warrior copied the techniques of a tiger to fight off a group of men — has resulted in the hosts overtaking some big names in the medals tally.
Indonesia now sit pretty in fourth position with 30 gold, 23 silver and 37 bronze, aggregating 90 medals, while four years back at Incheon, it only had four gold (17th position in the medals table). Its best ever finish was second in 1962 when the Games were held in Jakarta and the hosts finished with 11 gold, 12 silver and 28 bronze. To be sure, this year, the host-nation factor has worked to its advantage, but there can be no denying that the pencak medals have bloated its tally. This has raised the hackles of countries such as Iran and Malaysia that believe the host country has been given an “unfair advantage” by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).
Erick Thohir, head of Games organising committee, said the sport had stirred tensions with Indonesia’s neighbours.
Meanwhile, Iran has reason to feel slighted as despite having 19 gold medals, it is 11 behind Indonesia and has no chance of upending Indonesia’s tally.
Reports on Thursday suggested that the Iranian National Olympic Committee President Reza Salehi Amiri has written to the OCA questioning the Asian body’s decision to include an event that is hardly known outside Indonesia.
OCA president Sheikh Ahmed al-fahad al-ahmed al-sabah in his reply has said that “this kind of privilege would also be given to Iran if a match (Asian Games) was held in the country”.
Countering that Javed Ahmed, who is accompanying the Pakistani contingent, said: “Will it be right if Pakistan introduces ‘gilli-danda’ if they host the Asian Games in future. This would be doing injustice to other countries as only Pakistan and India play this sport.”
India is discussing the issue and may approach the forum too. “It is a serious issue and needs to be thoroughly discussed. The OCA should stop this practice of allocating sports on the whims and fancies of hosts,” Indian Olympic Association (IOA) treasurer Anandeshwar Pandey said.
“These kind of sports should always be introduced as demonstration events first and as medal events only after other countries are good enough to compete.”