The national pencak silat squad ended the 2019 season on a high note by winning four gold medals at the fifth edition of the Asian Pencak Silat Championship.

They also swept eight silvers and eight bronzes in the team event that ended on Sunday in Yanji, China.

Three of the gold medals were won in silat tanding events through Mohamad Hazim Amzad in the Putera C class (55-60kg), Mohd Al Jufferi Jamari (Putera E, 65-70kg) and Mohd Robial Sobri (Putera I, 85-90kg).

The fourth one came through the Nor Hamizah Abu Hassan-Nur Syazreen Abdul Malek combination in the Ganda Puteri event under the artistic silat.

Malaysian National Silat Federation (Pesaka) secretary-general Datuk Megat Zulkarnain Omardin was happy as the national silat squad had to compete in cold weather touching 15 degrees Celsius.

“Ten exponents reached the final, four won gold. I’ve advised them not to be complacent. We still need to rectify many weaknesses to face several championships next year, ’’ said Zulkarnain.

Zulkarnain said he was proud of the extraordinary spirit shown by several exponents.

He said Hazim managed to beat several experienced opponents from Vietnam and Thailand while former world champion Al-Jufferi exhibited consistent performances.

“I’m also happy with the excellent performance of Robial who succeeded in beating the experienced Sheik Ferdous Sheik Alauddin of Singapore at the championship this time. Our exponents were consistent, ” said Zulkarnain.

The national team’s next assignments are the Uzbekistan Open Pencak Silat Championship in Tashkent in January, Four Nations Championship in Kuala Lumpur in February and the Belgium Open Pencak Silat Championship in March.