The National Pencak Silat selection for martial arts will be held in the city on March 11 and 12 at Railway Institute Hall,Tadiwala Road,and will be organised by Pencak Silat Association,Maharashtra (PSAM). Selected athletes will represent India in the first Asian Martial Art Games to be held in Bangkok,Thailand,from April 25-May 1 2009. Nine Martial arts sports recognised by Olympic Council of Asia are included in the Games,where in all the Asian countries will participate. Games such as Pencak Silat,Taekwondo,Judo,Karate,Muay Thai,Kickboxing,Jujitsu,Wushu and Kung Fu and Kurash will be part of this competition. Abdul Razzak Shaikh,general secretary,PSAM,said,PSAM have successfully executed the first National camp in Pune last year with an overwhelming response,which led the Maharasthra State team to win the first championship in September 2008. The upcoming national selection trial will provide our country and Pune a platform to showcase our skills in the first ever Asian Martial Arts Games.
