SEPANG: Newly crowned silat world champion Thamaraj Vasudevan has now set his sights on winning the Asian Championships and Sea Games gold medals.
Thamaraj and the national squad received a hero's welcome at Kuala Lumpur International Airport today (Dec 24) after bringing home six gold, nine silver and four bronze medals from the World Championships in Abu Dhabi last week.
Thamaraj won gold in the men's open category two after defeating Khudoyberdiev Diyorbek of Uzbekistan in the final. It was a historic moment as the 28-year-old from Sungai Petani is the first-ever Malaysian Indian to win a world title in silat.
"Of course I feel very happy to be able to bring home this medal for my country," said the soft-spoken Thamaraj when met at KLIA.
"I had previously lost to this fighter (Khudoyberdiev) in the final of the Asian Championships in Uzbekistan (Oct) this year.
"So it was my target to beat him if I was to fight him again. I was determined to win it.
"My coaches and I had a plan and I was able to do well in the final.
"My next target will be to fight for gold in the Sea Games as well as the Asian Championships.
"I have already won silver twice at the Asian Championships (2023, 2024) and I hope to win the gold medal for Malaysia at the next edition.
"It does not matter who I meet, I am prepared to fight anyone."
The next edition of the Asian Championships is also expected to be held in Uzbekistan next year.
Unfortunately, the men's open category has not been included for next year's Thailand Sea Games but the Malaysia National Silat Federation (Pesaka) is hoping to push for the weight class' inclusion for the 2027 Malaysia Sea Games.
Thamaraj, who is 1.92 metres tall, added that silat is a martial art that can be taken up by anyone, regardless of race.
The military police corporal had previously represented the Armed Forces in taekwondo but switched to silat roughly three years ago.
He was called up to the national team after winning his category at the National Championships in 2022.
"When I was training in taekwondo, we always used to train next to the silat guys and they looked impressive. I wanted to try something new," said Thamaraj.
"It took over a year for me to really adapt and feel comfortable competing in silat. It is not an easy sport.
"Each martial art has its own strengths and it is the same with silat.
"I believe everyone can take up silat, however, you have to be dedicated and really learn the sport and train hard.
"If you don't learn and train seriously, you could risk getting injured."
Thamaraj currently trains under the National Sports Council's Podium Programme.