Indonesia Backs Pencak Silat Development in Timor-Leste
- 05 Mei 2026 16:44 WIB
- Voice of Indonesia
Key Points
- Youth and Sports Minister Erick Thohir pledged Indonesia's support to develop pencak silat in Timor-Leste.
- The initiative aims to promote the traditional martial art as a shared cultural identity and strengthen regional ties.
- Indonesia and Timor-Leste explored broader cooperation to benefit athletes and their economies.
RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia is extending its cultural footprint through sport, with Youth and Sports Minister Erick Thohir pledging support for the growth of pencak silat in Timor-Leste.
The traditional martial art, deeply rooted in Indonesian heritage, has already gained popularity across the border, and Jakarta sees its expansion as a way to strengthen regional ties.
“In Timor-Leste, pencak silat has become one of the most popular sports, and we are ready to support it,” Minister Erick announced via his official social media account on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, as quoted by Antara.
His remarks followed a bilateral meeting with Timor-Leste’s Youth and Sports Minister Nelyo Isaac Sarmento during the SEA Ministerial Meeting on Youth and Sports 2026 in Bali.
Minister Erick explained that the talks focused on opportunities to develop pencak silat as a shared cultural and sporting identity, while also exploring broader cooperation in the sports industry.
Beyond pencak silat, both ministers discussed ways to strengthen the sports sector to benefit athletes and economies in both countries. Minister Erick underscored Indonesia’s readiness to assist Timor-Leste’s ministry in building programs that would nurture the martial art and expand its reach internationally.
At the regional level, Minister Erick used the ministerial forum to call on ASEAN counterparts to create new international sporting events beyond the SEA Games.
He argued that Southeast Asia, home to around 650 million people and experiencing rapid economic growth, has the potential to host competitions that rival global fixtures.
He pointed to the success of world marathons in cities such as London, Boston, New York, and Tokyo, which attract international participants while boosting local economies.
“Why doesn’t Southeast Asia have its own marathon? It could involve Singapore, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and others, creating synergy in sports programs,” Minister Erick suggested. ***
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