Selayar Pencak Silat Team Returns Home After Winning Two Gold Medals at National Tournament
SUARA NEGERI ■ SELAYAR — Athletes from the Indonesian Pencak Silat Association (IPSI) of the Selayar Islands Regency received an official welcome on Wednesday after winning two gold and two bronze medals at the inaugural Makassar Beach Championship Open Pencak Silat Tournament 2026.
The welcoming ceremony was held at the Tanadoang Military Pencak Silat Training Center inside the 1415/Selayar District Military Command headquarters in Benteng. The event was led by Captain Inf. Zaenuddin, territorial staff officer of Kodim 1415/Selayar, representing Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Czi Yudo Harianto, and was attended by local government officials, sports administrators, community leaders, sponsors and military personnel.
In remarks delivered by Zaenuddin on behalf of the district military commander, the athletes, coaches and officials were praised for bringing honor to Selayar through their performance at the national competition.
"This achievement reflects extraordinary discipline, hard work and sacrifice," Zaenuddin said while reading the commander's statement.
He said the results demonstrated that athletes from the island regency are capable of competing at the national level when supported by consistent training and development, while encouraging the team to continue improving for future competitions.
Andi Irwan, representing the Selayar IPSI executive board, said the medals were the result of months of intensive preparation, disciplined training and strong support from coaches, local sports authorities and Kodim 1415/Selayar.
"We are grateful for the full support provided by Kodim 1415/Selayar throughout the team's preparation. That support gave our athletes the confidence to perform at their best," Andi Irwan said.
The Selayar contingent won gold medals through Habibi Alhafidz in the Boys' Early Age II Open Class and Riskayanti Rafian in the Women's Adult Class F. Bronze medals were secured by Haditsah Ardelia in the Women's Adult Class B and Tariqul Haq in the Boys' Early Age II Class B.
According to IPSI Selayar, the athletes underwent centralized training at the Tanadoang Military Pencak Silat Training Center before traveling to Makassar, focusing on technical skills, physical conditioning and mental preparation.
The welcoming ceremony concluded with a motorcade through Benteng town to celebrate the team's achievements and recognize their contribution to promoting Selayar in national sport.(Rasyid Munandar)
