SEA Games: Injured silat coach and his beaten charge share the pain

KUALA LUMPUR — Sitting courtside at the Juara Stadium in his wheelchair earlier this week, Yudhi Purwadiono could only watch helplessly as his charge, 2012 silat world champion Shakir Juanda, blacked out after a vicious takedown by his Vietnamese opponent, Nguyen Van Tri.

While Shakir got back on his feet after receiving medical attention, the 28-year-old was eventually beaten 5-0 by his rival, and settled for silver in the SEA Games men’s tanding class I (85-90kg).

Shakir’s disappointment at missing out on SEA Games gold once again, after he missed the 2015 SEA Games because of a knee injury, was also keenly felt by his coach.

“I am sad because at the (2015) world championships, I was Shakir’s corner man,” said Yudhi, who is from Indonesia. “I’m sad today because I couldn’t be his corner man when he was fighting.”

Clutching his crutches, his left leg heavily bandaged, Yudhi told TODAY that he had decided to travel with the 20-strong contingent to Kuala Lumpur to provide his support despite re-injuring his Achilles tendon two months ago.

He added: “I wanted to be there for my athletes. My heart is there with them, and I wanted to come and support them.”

Five months ago, Yudhi was sparring with Shakir during a training session at the OCBC Arena when a kick into the punching pads sent him tumbling backwards. The 30-year-old, a Singapore Silat Federation coach for the junior team, tore his left Achilles tendon and had to be taken to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, where he underwent surgery.

Ignoring his doctor’s orders to lay off from physical activity for six months, Yudhi was back on the mat training his charges Shakir and Suhailah Mohd Saiful after three months. But a bad fall caused his wound to reopen and bleed, forcing him to return to the hospital.

Shrugging off the incident, Yudhi said: “I went back because it was close to the SEA Games and the athletes needed to train.

“It was more painful this time because the wound split open and it bled. But luckily the doctor was not angry — he was more shocked at what happened because the wound had healed already.”

A former silat athlete with the Indonesian national team, Yudhi had fought against Shakir twice during his career, winning both encounters in the tanding class G (75-80kg). He also won a bronze and a silver at the 2007 and 2010 world championships, respectively.

Shakir told TODAY that Yudhi’s experience as an athlete, as well as the understanding he has with him — Yudhi worked with him for two years — has helped him become a better fighter.

“He was a very good and tactical fighter, and I always liked how he fights,” he said. “He’s like me when we fight — we will smile. I like him as a coach because he understands me and we blend together.

“I missed having him in my corner, but things happen. I’m glad that he is still with us and supports us from far … His presence is enough. He is a very dedicated coach and wants his athletes to succeed and we all appreciate what he does.”