Pencak Silat, Indonesia's Flagship Move at the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand

The TMII Pencak Silat Padepokan in East Jakarta was suddenly bustling on Tuesday afternoon (October 7, 2025). The Indonesian pencak silat team's national training camp was the first destination for Bayu Priawan Djokosoetono, the Chief de Mission (CdM), to visit the sports. As a result, many of his team members arrived before Bayu's arrival to prepare.

However, Puspa Arumsari (32) was not disturbed by the sudden commotion. Arum focused on practicing techniques on the training platform. Alternately, she performed techniques without weapons, techniques with a machete, and techniques with a staff.

Arum and 14 other Indonesian martial artists are currently preparing for the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand. The preparations have entered the pre-competition phase, considering that the SEA Games are only two months away. Arum does not want to be complacent.

The SEA Games is not an unfamiliar event for her. The martial artist from Jakarta made her debut at the SEA Games since the 2017 edition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The 2025 SEA Games in Thailand will mark her fifth SEA Games. However, Arum is reluctant to underestimate the importance of thorough preparation.

This is because there is a significant target that she aims to achieve. Arum wants to match her achievements at the world level, which is to collect three gold medals. She previously won gold in the women's individual artistic event at the 2019 Philippines SEA Games and the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games.

"That is a personal target as well as a motivation. If it is achieved, it will also help the team's target, which is to become the overall champion," said Arum, who will again compete in the artistic category.

Although SEA Games is not unfamiliar to Arum, it is a "new world" for Antonius Efrem Tuke Eduk (19). The SEA Games in Thailand 2025 will mark the debut of this martial artist from Atambua, East Nusa Tenggara, in the biennial multi-sport event.

There is still some nervousness because this SEA Games is different, perhaps due to the multi-sport nature. The target for gold medals is not only for oneself but also to assist the team and the Indonesian contingent.

Although he is set to make his debut at the SEA Games, Tuke is not without experience at the international level. Tuke has already competed in the Vietnam Asian Championship 2024 and the Uzbekistan Asian Championship 2025, as well as participating at the global level in the Abu Dhabi World Championship 2024. In all three events, Tuke has consistently brought home gold medals in the A class (45-50 kg).

According to Tuke, the achievements in the three championships serve as his preparation for the SEA Games. Although the level is lower, the SEA Games still holds its own prestige for him. "So there is still some nervousness because the SEA Games is different, perhaps due to the multi-sport nature. The target for the gold medal is not just for myself but also to help the team and the Indonesian contingent," he stated.

At the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand, the pencak silat team will consist of 15 athletes competing in 13 events. Compared to the previous edition in Cambodia, Indonesia's representation is smaller. Two years ago, Indonesia sent 20 martial artists.

They are competing in 17 events. In fact, there are 22 competition events, but only the host country, Cambodia, can participate in all of them. Other countries are limited to a maximum participation of 17 events.

Despite the limited number of events participated in, Indonesia successfully emerged as the overall champion in pencak silat by securing a total of 16 medals, consisting of 9 gold, 6 silver, and 1 bronze. This achievement made the Indonesian contingent the highest medal winner in this sport. Pencak silat also contributed the most medals for Indonesia.

In Thailand, the pencak silat team has been given the target of becoming the overall champion once again. The coach of the Indonesian pencak silat team, Indro Catur, stated that the Indonesian pencak silat team must be able to secure 6-7 gold medals to meet this target.

However, the Indonesian pencak silat team faces challenges. They are missing five events that could have potentially won medals in Thailand.

Four events that earned medals for Indonesia in Cambodia were not contested in Thailand. These include the men's class B (50-55 kg) and women's class D (60-65 kg) events, which secured gold medals, as well as the women's class E (65-70 kg), U45 women's, and women's duet arts events that won silver medals. In Thailand, Indonesia fielded athletes in the men's class G (75-80 kg), which was not participated in during the competition in Cambodia.

Previously, Minister of Youth and Sports Erick Thohir stated that Indonesia lost 41 potential medals because the host country removed 41 events from sports that previously contributed many gold medals in Cambodia. As a result, Indonesia's position in the medal standings could drop to 5th or 6th place.

Nevertheless, Indro is optimistic that his protégés can still achieve the target and contribute gold medals for Indonesia. To that end, his team will maximize the 13 available events.

Moreover, Indro stated that the majority of the martial artists were members of the team in Cambodia previously. They also have experience in winning gold medals, such as Arum.

"Five or six gold medals could already secure the overall championship. However, we will strive to perform as optimally as possible because we were also the overall champions in Cambodia," said Indro.

"Alhamdulillah, we also faced no obstacles because the team is a combination of gold medalists from Cambodia and young athletes who have excelled in the World Championship. Therefore, the athletes in the team are indeed the best," he added.

The head of the Indonesian contingent at the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand, Bayu Priawan Djokosoetono, is also optimistic that pencak silat can once again achieve the overall championship. According to Bayu, the target set for pencak silat is seven gold medals.

"Martial arts is not just a sport, but also a national identity. With achievements at the global level, I believe you can reach your targets in Southeast Asia," said Bayu to the athletes.

Pencak silat can once again become Indonesia's main "weapon" to win many medals at the SEA Games. With an experienced squad, it is not impossible to replicate the achievements in Cambodia in Thailand later.