Jakarta, NU Online
Minister of Youth and Sports Affairs Imam Nahrowi greeted the judges and the warriors who come from all over the country at the opening ceremony of the 2nd Pagar Nusa National Championship at Padepokan Pencak Silat Taman Mini Indonesia Indah / Beautiful Indonesia Miniature park (TMII) on Sunday (21/8).

The minister expected some of the best Pagar Nusa warriors to prepare themselves and be part of the Indonesian contingent at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

"Later we will compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Let's show our capabilities there," Imam Nahrowi said, adding that Pagar Nusa was a tremendous potential in martial sports.

With the various attractions staged at the opening ceremony, Pagar Nusa has demonstrated appropriate skills to the world community, he said.

Indonesian president Jokowi, Imam said, always told him to introduce martial arts (silat) as one of the original sports of Indonesia. He was deeply concerned when one of the neighboring countries claimed that martial arts originated from the country.

"If traveling overseas, please convey that one of the original sports of Indonesia is martial arts. All of us here have a facebook account, twitter, instagram. Let us socialize (the Indonesian) martial arts in social media," Imam said.

Present also at the occasion were the senior figure of Indonesian Martial Arts Association (IPSI) ret H Eddie M Nalapraya, Vice Chairman of IPSI, Special Board of Pagar Nusa, and hundreds of warriors participating in the2nd National Pagar Nusa Championship and Festival.

"I would like to thank the board members of Pagar Nusa who preserve the Indonesian traditions," Imam said. (Alhafiz K/Masdar)