While Pencak Silat event on Monday (27/8) brought joy for Indonesian Pesilats, it was a different story for Malaysian Pesilat Mohd Al-Jufferi Jamari, the 2016 world champion.
As reported on Asian Games 2018 official website, Al Jufferi withdrew from a heated match on men's 65-70kg final, just seconds before the game was supposed to end.
His opponent Komang Harik Adik Putra then bagged one of the eight golds that Indonesia won that day from Pencak Silat events.
The reason for his action was that he felt two of the judges did an unfair judgment.
"I respect all parties, but I cannot respect the jury," he said after the game to Malaysian media as cited in Mstar.
He didn't have a complaint or ill feelings toward his opponent Komang, but Al Jufferi criticized the quality of the judges, especially judge number 2 and 3, reportedly jury from South Korea and Laos. There are five juries in each match.
Datuk Menggat Zulkarnain, the Chairman of Malaysia Silat Federation, said he would protest seriously on this matter, which according to him would reflect negatively on Pencak Silat at future major sports events.
Cited by Tribun News, an Indonesia-based online news portal, he said: "If this is the case, I believe in another four years (Asian Games) in China, Pencak silat might not be contested."
Al Jufferi expressed similar sentiments. "The opportunity for this sport to compete in the Olympics is getting smaller if the quality of the court is like this."
After the game, Al Jufferi approached Malaysia's Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq, who came to watch the match. He kneeled down and apologised for his action. Saddiq hugged the emotional athlete to calm him down.
Although then still caught by emotion, he was reported to have punched a hole in the wall of the athlete's changing room in Padepokan Pencak Silat TMII, Jakarta.
The minister tweeted his support for Al-Jufferi and expressed his solidarity for the athlete.
"You will always be a winner in our eyes and hearts ... never apologise. Never. I will not accept it," said Syed.
Kamu tetap pemenang di mata dan hati kami semua brother Al Jufferi. Jangan sesekali minta maaf. NEVER. Saya tidak akan terima. Saya berdiri teguh bersama anda, pewira kita.
— Syed Saddiq (@SyedSaddiq) August 27, 2018
Inshaallah, Allah will reward you in many more ways brother. #MalaysiaBoleh pic.twitter.com/mmGenfJRRC
He posted a similar post on his Instagram @SyedSaddiq.
Source: Mstar, Free Malaysia Today, The Star, Channel News Asia, TribunNews, Kompas.com