The 6th edition of the Pencak Silat Federation Cup for Junior and Senior (Boys and Girls/Men and Women) will begin on January 19 at Manohar Parrikar Indoor Stadium, Navelim and continue till January 21.
Speaking about this art of self-defence Dr Shekhar Salkar, president of the State Pencak Silat Association shares, “The State Association is promoting and developing Pencak Silat Sports in Goa. We wish to include this game in the agenda of upcoming National Games. The Goan players regularly participate in the various nationals being conducted by Indian Pencak Silat Federation (IPSF) and have won many medals.” IPSF is the only National Federation for Pencak Silat Sports in India from the year 2015, duly affiliated with International Pencak Silat Federation.
Elaborating that Pencak Silat is an art of self-defence inherited, preserved and promoted by the people of South East Asia from their ancestors since centuries ago, Dr Salkar adds, “It translates to fighting by many techniques of self-defence.” The art has four main components: Mental and spiritual - The performance of Silat enables the practitioner to achieve inner peace and spiritual balance to control body and mind. Self-defence - The performance of skills to defend oneself effectively. Art and culture - The aesthetic beauty of movements coupled with other elements of arts such as traditional music, costumes and cultural ceremony. Sports - The performance of Silat as a sport to gain physical fitness and sports achievement.
Silat as a martial art is an effective system of self-defence using equal emphasis on both upper and lower limb techniques. It involves punching, kicking and dropping of the opponent. In recent years, Pencak Silat has transcended into many countries outside South East Asia including Holland, Germany, Italy, South Africa, France, Japan and more. The sport has since become a part of many people’s lives and a vehicle to bring people closer.
It promotes overall physical fitness in cardiovascular (stamina) strengthening, flexibility and general health. It is easily learned and adopted as ‘sports for life’ and promotes healthy-living. It is admired and cherished as a traditional art form and widely practised in cultural ceremonies. It equips participants with an all-rounded art of self-defence in any situation. It instils a sense of responsibility and discipline in students. It cultivates social values such as social interaction, team spirit, sportsmanship. It helps to release tension, lower stress levels and instil a positive mind-set.
Silat employs natural body movements and develops balance and economy of movement in each individual. It can be practised purely for sport and fitness, for the aesthetic beauty of the art or for the chance to learn one of the world’s few remaining complete traditional martial arts systems. It enhances and strengthens self-awareness, self-discipline, integrity, responsibility, loyalty and cooperation amongst its practitioners.
When taught by a qualified teacher it offers an opportunity for students to develop physically, mentally, morally and spiritually. The competitions are carried out in accordance with the category rules regulated in the competition regulations and conducted by certified legal and valid technical official of competitions and the categories are TANDING (match) category, TUNGGAL (single) category, GANDA (double) category and REGU (team) category.
Pencak Silat Federation Cup begins at Margao today
The 6th edition of the Pencak Silat Federation Cup for Junior and Senior (Boys and Girls/Men and Women) will begin on January 19 at Manohar Parrikar Indoor Stadium, Navelim and continue till January 21. Organised by Pencak Silat Association Goa (PSAG) In collaboration with Indian Pencak Silat Federation (IPSF) this championship will see the participation of about 600 leading players of India along with 100 officials.
The participating States are Punjab, Manipur, Maharashtra, Jammu & Kashmir, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Pondicherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Kerala, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. The inauguration ceremony will be held on January 19 at the hands of Shripad Y Naik, Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Tourism. The prize distribution ceremony will be held on January 21 at 4 pm at the hands of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
