Ngee Ann Polytechnic lead 6th Tertiary Silat Championships

Story contributed by reader Siti Sarah Aziz

A silat exponent takes down his opponent. (Photo 1 © Siti Sarah Aziz)

Republic Polytechnic, June 6, 2008 – Walking into the Republic Polytechnic Sports Center, I was reminded of a time not so long ago when I was involved in the annual Tertiary Silat Championships.

Every year, the Championship is a feast for the senses. The oh-so-original, humorous yet tasteful cheers ever pleasant to the ears, the battle scars from your fight, the food that your team manager ordered due to care and concern for your well-being, and of course, the occasional sight of that cute pesilat whom you just cannot stop bumping into.

Ten schools are participating this year; Institute of Technical Education (ITE), Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP), Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP), Singapore Polytechnic (SP), Temasek Polytechnic (TP), National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Millenia Insitute (MI), Singapore Management University (SMU) and the host school, Republic Polytechnic (RP).

The competition this year promised to be different from previous years, starting with the jaw-dropping performance by the pencak silat team from Shuqun Primary School. Led by their team captain, Nurmashairina, the children aged between eight and 12 skilfully twirled weapons in their small hands, doing one-hand cartwheels, and other stunts which would put any grown man to shame.

When interviewed, Nurmashairina, 12, said that it was their first time performing for an actual silat event. Before this, they have been invited to perform for other functions at community clubs and in school.

The competition started with the Seni categories. In addition to the typical categories of men’s and women’s solo, duo and group categories, a solo freestyle category was introduced for both men and women.

Nanyang Polytechnic silat team did not shine as well as they did in the past few years. Instead, it was the teams from NP and ITE which led the medal tally by winning two gold medals each. NP won gold for Women’s Solo and Duo categories while ITE clinched gold medals in the Men’s Solo and Group categories. NP were the overall medal leaders in the artistic category with two gold, one silver and one bronze.

With the end of all artistic events, all eyes are now on sparring events with the preliminary and quarter final rounds completed the weekend before. Judging by the results, NP, ITE and NUS are favourites to win this year’s sparring categories. Norazmi Makmor, coach for the NUS pencak silat team, acknowledged that NP and NYP are the two schools to look out for but he still has confidence in his team has been very satisfied with their performance so far.

The crowd turns out in force at Republic Polytechnic. (Photo 2 © Siti Sarah Aziz)

A silat exponent shows off his skills. (Photo 3 © Siti Sarah Aziz)