The year 2024 has been a remarkable one for Malaysian athletes across various sports, capped off by an outstanding achievement from the Malaysian Silambam team.
Competing at the Asian Open Silambam Championship held in Qatar on December 27, the team clinched the title of Asian champions with an incredible haul of 12 gold medals.
Their dominant performance ensured they finished as the overall champions, outshining teams from across the continent.
According to the Malaysian Silambam Association President Dr M Suraess, the team comprised six national athletes who gave stellar performances in the ‘thanithiramai’ (individual artistic staff spinning) and ‘poruthal’ (combat) categories, securing two gold medals each.
The gold medalists were:
- Prakash in the men’s open above 60kg category
- Shastivena in the girls’ under-17 (55kg-65kg) category
- Leenasree (30kg-40kg), Kavithira (45kg-55kg), Darnisha (55kg-65kg), and Ranishaa (above 70kg) in the girls’ under-15 category
Dr M Suraess praised the athletes for making history by becoming the overall champions of the competition.
Notably, these talented individuals also secured medals during the Sukma Games held in Sarawak last August, further demonstrating their consistency and dedication.
In the championship, host nation Qatar secured the runner-up position, while the United Arab Emirates finished third.
Other participants included teams from India and Saudi Arabia, showcasing the growing prominence of Silambam across Asia.
For the uninitiated, Silambam is a traditional martial art that originated in Tamil Nadu, India, over 5,000 years ago.
Recognised as one of the world’s oldest forms of self-defence, it is listed among the 64 essential arts prescribed by ancient Tamil society for personal development.
Silambam has evolved significantly over the centuries, with modern practices refining its techniques and aligning them with contemporary needs.
The art form was introduced to Malaysia during British colonial rule when Tamil workers brought it along, embedding it into the country’s cultural fabric.
Today, Silambam holds a special place in Malaysia’s rich cultural heritage and has now brought international recognition to the nation through the triumphs of these six extraordinary athletes.
Source: Bernama
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