3 Pencak Silat Exponents Crowned Asian Champions

8th Asian Pencak Silat Championship 2024


The 8th Asian Pencak Silat Championship 2024 in Bukhara, Uzbekistan from 9 to 16 October 2024 was a highly anticipated competition for our pencak silat exponents. Past and present student-athletes fought for a spot on the podium and clinched 3 gold, 4 silver, and 7 bronze medals out of the total medal tally of 38 medals by Team Singapore.

Two pencak silat exponents, Nur Aniqah Qistina Roslan and Danial Hariz Rizal, were crowned Asian Champions after winning the title in Junior Female Class D and Junior Male Class I respectively. The third gold medal was secured by four-time pencak silat world champion and alumnus Sheik Farhan Sheik Alau’ddin.

Danial Hariz Rizal, a Secondary 3 student who has been training in the sport since Kindergarten 2, expressed his excitement about his first Asian Championship victory. He said, “Participating in the competition was an invaluable experience, allowing me to test both my mental and physical prowess. With the guidance of my coaches, I learnt the importance of being prepared and ready to face opponents, regardless of age, as the sport is categorised by weight. It wasn’t easy to emerge as a champion among champions, but standing on the podium with our national flag and a gold medal for Singapore made me feel humbled, blessed, and proud to represent our country at the Asian Championships.”

Nur Aniqah Qistina was also overwhelmed after winning gold at the Championship. She shared, “Despite having to juggle my exams and training, I was very determined to not miss training sessions as I wanted to be ready for the Asian Championships. Although there were a lot of setbacks, I knew I had to persevere and push myself through the tough days to be better. I had to prepare myself mentally and physically. It was not easy but the continuous support from my family, coaches, teachers, and teammates gave me the strength to give my very best in the Arena!”

Coming from a family of pencak silat exponents, Nur Aniqah Qistina’s passion for the sport was ignited by watching her relatives compete as national team members. Winning gold has only strengthened her resolve to continue striving for excellence.

Additionally, Rifqah Mursyidah Mistam and Mohammad Ridzqi Mohammad Fadzil won silver while Aleesa Hanin Abdul Rahim won bronze in the junior categories. Current student-athletes in the polytechnic programmes, Nadhrah Sahrin and Aniq ‘Asri Mohammad Yazid, bagged bronze medals in the senior categories.