The first Dutch Open Championships hosted by the Netherlands Pencak Silat Federation was held in Roermond, The Netherlands, on 27 & 28 August this year, at the Herteym Sports Hall.

Some 70 Competitors took part from 6 countries: Germany, Indonesia, Malaysia, The Netherlands, Singapore & the United Kingdom, competing in Tanding & Seni categories, with 3 athletes from the UK participating in the Tanding competitions.

Organisers & Hosts

• Netherlands Pencak Silat Federation (NPSF)
• Sanctioned by International Pencak Silat Federation (PERSILAT)

Heads of delegations

• European Pencak Silat Federation: Mr Aidinal Alrashid - EPSF President
• Asia Pencak Silat Federation (APSF): Mr Sheik Alau'ddin Yacoob Marican - APSIF President
• Persekutuan Silat Kebangsaan Malaysia (PESAKA): Mr. Dato Rosman Mat Deli - Vice President
• Singapore Silat Federation (PERSISI): Sheik Alau'ddin Yacoob Marican - CEO
• German Pencak Silat Federation (GPSF) : Mr Andre Mewis - President
• Pencak Silat Federation UK (PSFUK): Miss Sue Gault - Secretary General

PSF UK Delegation

• PSF UK Secretary General: Sue Gault
• UK Team Manager: Adeel Akhtar
• UK Competitors & Coach: Racan Osman, Djibrill Aoudou, Amrisha Uriep
  

The Championships were opened by the Ambassadors to the Netherlands from Malaysia - H.E. Dato' Ahmad Nazri Yusof, & from Indonesia - H.E. I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja, following a speech by the Secretary General of the NPSF, Robert Brandt.

The Opening Ceremony was followed by the start of the Junior & Senior Tanding competitions.

The PSF UK's Racan Osman was up against Jair Verwey of the Netherlands in Male Class C & beat his opponent with a unanimous decision. The next UK fighter to compete was Djibrill Aoudou in the Open Weight Category, fighting Roman Kobialka of Silat Lincah. Djibrill beat his opponent with multiple take-downs & relentless point scoring.

Racan Osman had a second fight that afternoon, against Abdeljalil Bel-Elkatib of the Netherlands, beating his opponent with a comfortable win. Soon after Racan's success, the UK's Amrisha Uriep was pitched against Lisa Maartens of the Netherlands. This was Amrisha's first international fight, but she managed to take down her opponent several times & pick up points, but the experienced Dutch pesilat also took Amrisha down & eventually won on points.

On the second day of the Championships, Racan Osman was to fight Malaysia's Mohd Zarish Hakim in the Final of Male Class C. Racan's scissors technique managed to take down his opponent, but wasn't always successful, & he also got taken down. By the start of the 3rd round Mohd Hakim was up on points, & continuing to build on those, the experienced Malaysian pesilat won the match, so that Racan won Silver.

Singapore's Nurul Suhaila Mohd Saiful won the cup for best Female Athlete, - the cup for best Male athlete went to Malaysia's Mohd Al Jufferi Jamari.

The cup for the best team was won by Malaysia.

For more pictures from the Pencak Silat Dutch Open Championships 2016, click here