KUALA LUMPUR – How safe is pencak silat as a sport?
National pencak silat coach Fauzi Khalid believes that more safety measures should be put in place by state associations and competition committees to protect exponents from life-threatening consequences during training and competitions.
The former world champion’s response came following the death of Terengganu’s silat athlete Wan Muhammad Haikal Wan Hussin, who died at Tuanku Ja’afar Hospital, Seremban, after collapsing during the Sukma pre-selection competition yesterday evening.
Speaking to Scoop, Fauzi, who won the 2010 World Pencak Silat Championship in Jakarta, said that the death of the 21-year-old athlete was something he had never witnessed before.
“I heard the news and was shocked. I have never witnessed something like this happening, as silat has always been perceived to be a safe form of martial arts.
“Injuries such as fractures, joint dislocation, and ankle sprains are usually normal in our sport, but this is something abnormal, and cases like this have never happened before in my 15 years of experience in this sport.
“I’m not sure how the training takes place at the state level, but at the national level, we always make sure that the athletes are protected with safety equipment during training.
“At the national level, we always ensure that players wear their helmets, mouth guards, and body vests to protect themselves from any kind of injuries.
“I believe the Malaysian National Silat Federation (Pesaka) has already provided guidelines to all the states and competition communities to follow during their training sessions and competitions.
“I prefer not to speculate as I was not there during the incident, but I’m not sure how many of them are following the guidelines and I think more awareness is needed on this matter to prevent something like this from happening again,” said Fauzi, who represented the national silat team from 2007 to 2022.
Fauzi further said that state associations should always prioritise their athletes’ fitness before sending them for competitions, citing that the intensity of the sport has increased over the years.
“When I used to compete, I experienced concussions but I was lucky that they were never serious. But times have changed – the standards are high and the fights are getting more intense, hence the state associations that prepare their players need to be very careful.
“Before training or competitions, there should be a medical team to check whether the athlete is fit to train or compete.
“Sometimes, if the athlete has been having some fitness issues, it can also put his or her life in danger. We practice this norm at the national level, and even other martial arts like Muay Thai practice this method globally.
“I never knew Wan Muhammad Haikal personally, but I have seen some of his highlights, and he had much potential in him.
“Terengganu has been producing really good exponents over the years, and we have brought them into the national setup.
“I hope this kind of issue doesn’t arise again. May his soul rest in peace,” Fauzi added.
Terengganu State Youth Development, Sports, and Non-Governmental Organisations Committee chairman Hishamuddin Abdul Karim, in a statement, said that the late Haikal was a potential medalist in Sukma in the Men’s Class l (85-90 kg) category.
He said that the report of Haikal’s death was received yesterday morning, and his office is awaiting a detailed chronological report on the incident.
The late athlete was buried at the Kg Alur Selising cemetery in Jerteh. – March 4, 2024