KUALA LUMPUR – Newly crowned silat world champion V. Thamaraj is set on becoming the country’s most successful exponent by emulating the achievements of his idol, Al-Jufferi Jamari.
Speaking exclusively to Scoop, Thamaraj, who recently won a gold medal by defeating Uzbekistan’s Diyorbek Khudoyberdiev in the men’s open category (over 110kg) at the World Championship in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, said the triumph has motivated him to win more World Championships for the country, following in the footsteps of his idol.
Al-Jufferi, who has four world championships to his name, is regarded as one of Malaysia’s greatest silat exponents of all time.
Al-Jufferi retired from silat after defeating Indonesian exponent Iqbal Chandra Pratama with a score of 35-21 to claim his fourth World Championship at the Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC) Hall in 2022.
“I admire Al-Jufferi and idolise him. I want to be like him. Winning my inaugural world championship has inspired me to improve and aim for several championships in a row – just like my idol. Consistency is something I greatly admire in him,” said Thamaraj when contacted by Scoop.
“I’ve watched him compete several times, and I really admire his quickness during combat. Over the past two years, I’ve been watching all his combat videos on YouTube, which have inspired me to become a better fighter.”
“My goal for 2025 is to perform consistently in all the upcoming tournaments, including the Bangkok SEA Games. I will also work harder to prepare my body for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. I’ve already started putting in the work for it.”
“Coaches like Siti Rahmah Nasir have been instrumental in my growth, and I hope to one day meet Al-Jufferi to learn more from his playing days,” Thamaraj added.
At the same time, the Kedahan expressed his hopes of delivering a formidable performance in the tournaments he will be fielded by the National Silat Association (Pesaka) in the coming years.
Through his triumph at the World Championships, Thamaraj became the first Malaysian Indian to achieve such a feat.
Thamaraj’s monumental victory has not only earned him a place in history but also a promotion from corporal to sergeant in the Royal Military Police Corps (KPTD), effective January 2.
The 20th edition of the World Pencak Silat Championship saw Malaysia return home with a total of six gold, nine silver, and four bronze medals.
The national junior squad also brought home five gold, four silver, and four bronze medals.
Considered one of the oldest martial arts in the Nusantara archipelago, silat is now a sport that has spread globally, with a total of 40 countries embracing it. – December 26, 2024