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PAIN NOT A BARRIER: Despite a fractured wrist, Nurul Khairunnisa (left) still managed to beat Nurlina Poh Yu Zhen. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE
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SAIEDAH Said lived up to her top billing at the inaugural All-Women's International Pencak Silat Open at the Bedok Sports Hall.
The Singaporean, the 2004 world champion in the 50-55kg class, won the 55-60kg title yesterday.
She floored her opponent, Malaysian Nur Atiqah, with a back-sweep.
Said the 23-year-old: 'My opponent was tough to beat. But I managed to knock her down and get the bonus point.'
Singapore emerged overall champions in the two-day event, organised by the Singapore Silat Federation (Persisi).
Some 200 silat exponents from nine countries, including Malaysia and Japan, took part.
The hosts swept 20 of the 31 titles on offer.
Contributing to the Republic's haul were sisters Nur Zulaikha and Nur Zakirah, who are also members of the national taekwando team.
Yesterday, they won the junior 63-66kg and pre-junior 42-44kg titles respectively.
Zulaikha, 16, said that her taekwando background enables her to kick faster.
However, the sisters have had to put in extra effort to pursue their twin passions.
Said Zakirah, 14: 'On weekdays, I have to go to school in the morning, attend silat training in the afternoon and taekwando sessions at night.'
Nurul Khairunnisa is another silat exponent who does not mind going the extra mile to win honours.
The 14-year-old Singapore Sports School student suffered a slight fracture to the wrist while competing on Saturday.
But she withstood the pain to emerge champion in the junior 54-57kg category yesterday.
She said: 'I just tried my best to block out the pain and focus on the match.'
She defeated compatriot Nurlina Poh Yu Zhen 5-0 in the final.
Poh, who is of Chinese-Malay parentage, said that her Chinese father influenced her to take up the traditional Malay martial art as it 'trains one spiritually'.
Persisi chief executive director Sheik Alau'ddin considered the first all-women's silat competition a success.
He hopes that more women can be persuaded to take up the sport.
He said: 'We had competitors from countries like Azerbaijan and Australia.
'Next year, I hope more women will come forth from more countries.'
ongchris@sph.com.sg
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