National Games 2023: Odisha shines in pencak silat; all you need to know about the lesser-known sports

Odisha athletes have hogged the limelight in the newly introduced pencak silat sports event in the National Games in Goa. 

Odisha athletes won a total of four medals in the martial art event which made its debut in the mega competition. While pencak silat is still breaking into the mainstream, the awareness of Odisha athletes about the martial art is praiseworthy.

However, sports lovers have little knowledge about the lesser-known sports. Pencak silat, a full-body martial arts form, has immediately grabbed eyeballs among sports fans across the country.

Originated in Indonesia in the 14th Century AD, the sports has been gaining a strong foothold in India, thanks to the formation of Indian Pencak Silat Federation in 2012 in Jammu and Kashmir.

Though the sports has its roots in Jammu and Kashmir, states like Maharashtra, Manipur, Goa and Odisha have been promoting it aggressively. And the officials are confident that becoming a regular feature in the National Games will only help its popularity further.

In Goa, as many as 316 athletes from 28 states and Union Territories took part in pencak silat.

“From a sports which no one knew about to having its presence in almost all states and Union Territories is the result of the hard work that we did over the years,” said Mohammed Iqbal, CEO, Pencak Silat Federation of India.

“The recognition we got this time in Goa is huge. We were all waiting for a debut at the National Games and now that it has been achieved, we are ready for the next step to make pencak silat even more popular in the country.”

“We also received the news from the Government of India that Daman and Diu will be hosting the inaugural edition of the National Beach Games in December this year and out of 12 sports they have picked, pencak silat is one of them,” he added.

A cursory glance at Pencak Silat and its various stances, steps, and most importantly categories make the sports all the more interesting.

“Pencak silat is all about displaying your strength and agility. For instance, there is tanding which is a fast-paced affair where participants are rewarded for well-placed strikes and encourage counters via takedown or sweeps. Then there are tunggal (single), ganda (double), and regu (team) categories respectively,” said Iqbal.

“It’s more than a sports for those who take part in it. It is more of an art form and pencak silat deserves greater platforms in the coming days,” he added.

While Pencak Silat is still a relatively lesser-known sport, many youngsters are coming forward to showcase their skills and talent.

“Given the fact that pencak silat teaches an athlete a lot about self-defense and discipline, I see more youngsters from the country investing a lot of time in picking up the sport as a long-term career,” said Anuj, a two-time Asian Bronze medalist.

“India only had a contingent of four athletes at the Jakarta Asian Games in 2018. However, this year’s participation gives us hope that the next edition of the Asian Games will see more athletes in India. And, one day, maybe at the Olympic Games too, when the sports earns its recognition,” he signed off.