Pencak silat

Quàng Thị Thu Nghĩa of Việt Nam on the top podium of the women's 75kg in the 20th World Pencak Silat Championships. It is her fourth time being world champion. Photo baosonla.vn

HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese athletes dominated the 20th World Pencak Silat Championships and the fifth Junior World Pencak Silat Championships which closed in Abu Dhabi, on December 22.

The Southeast Asian team pocketed 18 golds in both two tournaments to top the medal table.

Among the winners were Trần Thị Kim Loan (women's 45kg), Lê Thị Vân Anh (women's 60kg), Quàng Thị Thu Nghĩa (women's 75kg), Vũ Văn Kiên (men's 60kg) and Lê Văn Toàn (men's Open 1).

“My fighters have competed with the highest determination. Their golds were in our plan as athletes showed their performances were just as good as when they trained at home," said head of the Việt Nam delegation Từ Thị Lê Na.

The world championships featured more than 1,200 athletes from 55 countries and regions, competing from December 18-22.

Participants took part in a range of categories, including both artistic performances and combat matches, which feature defensive techniques, powerful strikes, and takedowns. Competitions were held for age groups ranging from 12 to 46 years.

The championship was a key event of Việt Nam in its preparation for the 33th SEA Games next year.

In 2025, Thailand will organise 13 weight events, with eight for men and two for women.

In the previous games, Việt Nam entered only five finals and won four golds, which did not meet the team's target.

Pencak Silat has grown in popularity worldwide. It is a key step towards the sport’s bid for inclusion in the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, following its exhibition success at the Paris 2024 Olympics and the 2022 World Pencak Championship in Malaysia.

The World Pencak Silat Championship is one of the premier events in the mixed martial arts world, attracting athletes from across the globe. Pencak Silat, which originated in Indonesia, has spread throughout Southeast Asia. VNS