S'porean duo fall at Silat World Championships
There was double disappointment for Singapore at the Pencak Silat World Championships in Phuket, Thailand, on Wednesday.
First, Shakir Juanda, who became world champion at the last edition of the tournament in 2012, was dumped out in the semi-final after suffering a 1-4 defeat by Indonesia's Tri Juanda Samsul Bahar in the Class H (80 to 85kg) category.
Then, Nurul Suhaila Mohamed Saiful faltered in the final of the women's Class D (60 to 65kg) category, losing 0-5 to Indonesia's Selly Andriani to finish with a silver medal.
The 19-year-old mass communications student had surpassed expectations to reach the final, after clinching a bronze in 2012.
This means Singapore's last hope for a world champion at this championship rests on the shoulders of Class J (90 to 95kg) fighter Sheik Farhan.
Farhan, the third of national silat great Sheik Alau'ddin's four sons, beat 2011 South-east Asia Games bronze medallist Azrul Abdullah of Malaysia 4-1 yesterday to advance to Friday's final.
Read the full report in The New Paper on Thursday (Jan 15).
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Related report: S'porean Suhaila reaches Silat World Championships final
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