Pencak Silat in Assam

Verified profileAchievements, tournaments, coaches and scholarships on this page are compiled from federation and government sources (Indian Pencak Silat Federation (indianpencaksilat.org), Syllad — Senior National Pencak Silat Championship, Shillong coverage, World Pencak Silat (worldpencaksilat.org)).

Overview

Governing body: Indian Pencak Silat Federation
Origin: Indonesia
Olympic discipline: No
Category: Combat
Total players listed: …

Pencak Silat is one of India's most-followed disciplines. The Indian Pencak Silat Federation oversees national federation activity, talent identification and Olympic qualification pathways. Major support flows in through TOPS and Khelo India for athletes who clear federation benchmarks.

Pencak Silat is not currently on the Olympic programme, but it sits firmly inside India's broader sporting ecosystem. The discipline receives support through the Khelo India movement, multi-sport events such as the National Games and Asian Games trials wherever the sport is contested, and dedicated league or championship structures run by the federation. Sponsorship, broadcast deals and private academies often fill the gap that direct government funding leaves, and several state governments offer cash awards, government jobs and land grants to medallists at the National Games and recognised world championships.

Combat sport pathways in India are unusually deep because of the country's traditional akhara and dojo culture sitting alongside the modern federation structure. The Indian Pencak Silat Federation runs sub-junior, junior, youth and senior nationals every year, and weight-category selection trials decide who represents India at continental and world events. Sports science, weight management and injury rehabilitation have become major focus areas since multiple Indian combat athletes have reached the Olympic and World Championship podium. SAI's combat-sport centres at Patiala, Lucknow, Bhopal, Sonepat and the IIS in Vijayanagar form the backbone of the elite training network.

At the grassroots, the route into Pencak Silat typically starts at school under the School Games Federation of India (SGFI), at the inter-university level under the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), or through a private academy registered with the state association. The Khelo India Youth Games and Khelo India University Games are the largest single discovery platforms — athletes who reach the podium at these events become eligible for the Khelo India Talent Development scheme, which funds boarding, coaching, kit, education and a monthly stipend at accredited centres. State sports awards and central government jobs under the sports quota remain a powerful incentive for athletes from smaller towns.

Pencak Silat originated in Indonesia, and in India it has developed a distinct character shaped by the country's geography, demographics and sporting culture. Whether you want to compete, coach, sponsor, write about or simply follow Pencak Silat, the practical starting point is the same: connect with your state association under the Indian Pencak Silat Federation, identify the nearest SAI centre or accredited academy, and track the Khelo India and federation calendars for the events that decide selection at every level. Pencak Silat is played and developed across India under the Indian Pencak Silat Federation, with grassroots programmes, state associations and national-level competition pathways.

History

How pencak silat evolved globally and took root in India.

Pencak Silat traces its modern origins to Indonesia. Codified rules, standard equipment and international competition took shape as the sport spread beyond its birthplace, and Indian Pencak Silat Federation is the body that carried it into organised Indian competition.

In India, pencak silat grew through princely-state patronage, defence-service teams, universities and state associations. Post-independence, the discipline was formalised under Indian Pencak Silat Federation, national championships were instituted, and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) later brought it into the centralised high-performance system with dedicated centres, coaching cadres and sports-science support.

Pencak Silat sits outside the Olympic programme but is firmly part of India's Asian Games, Commonwealth and National Games map, with state governments backing medallists through cash awards, jobs and land grants.

Indian Players

Loading…

Loading roster…

Browse the full athlete directory →

Rules

Pencak silat is an Indonesian-origin martial art contested in two broad streams. In the combat (tanding) category, two athletes in the same weight class fight three two-minute rounds, scoring points for strikes (1), kicks (2) and successful takedowns/throws (3); attacks must be delivered from a recognized stance with control, and grabbing or striking the opponent's groin, neck, head and joints is penalised. In the artistic categories, athletes are judged on the accuracy, firmness and rhythm of set movements — tunggal (solo pattern with and without weapons), ganda (a choreographed pair fight) and regu (a team of three performing in unison).

Authoritative rulebook: Indian Pencak Silat Federation. Age-group and school-level variations are published by SGFI and the state associations each season.

Positions

Key roles, events or positions inside a pencak silat squad or competition.

Fighter / competitor
Contests bouts inside the ring, mat or cage in a set weight category.
Corner / second
Coach in the corner during the bout — allowed to instruct between rounds.
Referee & judges
Officiate the bout, score rounds and enforce safety rules.
Cutman / medical
Manages cuts, swelling and immediate medical needs between rounds.

Equipment

Standard kit and infrastructure required to train and compete in pencak silat at a federation-recognised event.

Black pesilat uniform with federation badge and coloured belt/sash
Body protector (pelindung badan) in red or blue for tanding bouts
Groin guard, gum shield and optional shin/palm protection
For artistic events: traditional dress plus a golok (blade) and toya (staff)
Matted competition area of 10m x 10m with a 8m circle

Governing body

National federation

Indian Pencak Silat Federation

Indian Pencak Silat Federation is the recognised national body for Pencak Silat in India. It sets the domestic calendar, selection norms, coaching curriculum and anti-doping compliance, and is affiliated to the international federation for pencak silat. State associations under Indian Pencak Silat Federation run age-group competition and feed the national talent pipeline.

Origin: Indonesia
Olympic: No
Category: Combat

All federations →

Major Indian Events

Domestic championships, Khelo India events, National Games and franchise leagues that shape the pencak silat calendar in India.

Senior National Pencak Silat Championship
Organized by the Indian Pencak Silat Federation (IPSF), recognized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and SAI, affiliated to the Asian & International Pencak Silat Federation. Now in its 12th+ edition, contested across combat (tanding) and artistic (tunggal/ganda/regu) categories.
All India Pencak Silat Championship
A separate annual event (3rd edition held 2025-26 in Dehradun). The Khelo India ASMITA Pencak Silat League also runs as part of the Khelo India women's sports initiative.

International Events

Continental and world-level competitions where India competes in pencak silat.

Asian Games
Pencak silat has been contested at the Asian Games since 2018 (Jakarta, as a host-nation addition).
3rd Junior Asian Pencak Silat Championship
India hosted this event in Srinagar in September 2025, explicitly positioned to showcase Kashmir as a sporting destination.

Leagues

No dedicated professional league is currently catalogued for pencak silat. The national championship under Indian Pencak Silat Federation remains the top domestic competition.

All leagues →

International Players

Globally recognised pencak silat athletes to know outside India.

Mikaela Mayer (USA) / Naoya Inoue (Japan)
World-title boxers headlining the current pro scene.
Islam Makhachev (Russia)
UFC lightweight champion.
Zaur Uguev (Russia)
Two-time Olympic and multiple-time World wrestling champion.
Kim Yu-Jin (South Korea)
Olympic taekwondo gold medallist.
Uta Abe (Japan)
Olympic and World judo champion.

Records

Where to find India's official pencak silat record book.

Olympic medalsN/A
Pencak Silat is not on the Olympic programme, so India records this discipline through Asian Games, Commonwealth, World and Continental championships instead.
Asian Games medalsTracked
India's Asian Games results in pencak silat are compiled by the Indian Olympic Association and the Indian Pencak Silat Federation.
Commonwealth medalsTracked
Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Championship medals in pencak silat are maintained by the Indian Pencak Silat Federation.
World Championship medalsTracked
Senior, junior and youth World Championship medal records are held by the international federation for pencak silat and mirrored by Indian Pencak Silat Federation.
National record holdersFederation register
Indian Pencak Silat Federation publishes the current senior, junior and sub-junior national records and updates them after every ratified event.

Career Options

Ways to build a career in pencak silat — on the field, on the sidelines and behind the scenes.

IPSF leadership describes the sport's growth in India as dramatic — from little recognition or infrastructure a decade ago to competitions now running at district, state and national levels
Playing pathway through IPSF's state associations (including newer bodies like the Meghalaya Pencak Silat Association) and age-group national championships
Coaching certification through IPSF, which is recognized by SAI, the Army Institute (AIU), Khelo India and the School Games Federation of India (SGFI)
Pencak silat is recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage, alongside its status as a competitive sport

Explore sports careers →Coaches directory →

Related academies

0 listed

No pencak silat academies are catalogued in the directory yet. Browse the full academy list or list your academy to appear here.

All academies →List your academy →

Government Schemes

…

Central and state schemes that fund training, stipends and awards for pencak silat athletes and academies.

Loading schemes…

All government schemes →

FAQs

Common questions about pencak silat in India.

Who governs Pencak Silat in India?▾

Indian Pencak Silat Federation is the recognised national federation for Pencak Silat in India. State associations under Indian Pencak Silat Federation run age-group and state-level competition and feed the national talent pipeline.

Is Pencak Silat an Olympic sport?▾

Pencak Silat is not currently on the Olympic programme, but India competes at Asian Games, Commonwealth Games (where recognised), World Championships and other continental events sanctioned by Indian Pencak Silat Federation.

How do I start playing Pencak Silat in India?▾

Join a school team under SGFI, a college team under AIU, or a private academy affiliated to your state association. From there, age-group state championships and Khelo India events are the standard route into the national pipeline.

What government schemes support Pencak Silat athletes?▾

The core schemes are Khelo India (talent development stipends, scholarships and boarding at accredited centres), TOPS (funding for elite athletes preparing for the Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games), and state-government cash awards, jobs and land grants for medallists. Federation-specific schemes may also apply.

Where can I train for Pencak Silat?▾

Sports Authority of India (SAI) national centres of excellence, Khelo India accredited academies, state sports institutes and private academies registered with the state association are the standard training venues. The Academies section on this page lists options.

How are Indian Pencak Silat athletes selected for international events?▾

Indian Pencak Silat Federation runs selection trials — typically the senior national championship, a dedicated trial event, or ranking-based selection — and publishes the selection policy each season. Objective criteria (times, distances, ranking points, weight-class results) dominate at the elite level.

Pencak Silat in every state & UT

Dedicated pages for Pencak Silat in each Indian state and Union Territory — academies, schemes, athletes and how to start.

Pencak Silat