Singapore silat exponent Dhani Andika Razali (left) won his first SEA Games gold on Dec 17. Photo: SportSG/ Yodsawat Ratanapitaktep
Dhani Andika Razali took to the mat with about 60 per cent vision and 100 per cent belief ahead of the men’s Under 45kg final. That proved to be a winning combination for the silat exponent, who clinched his first SEA Games title in commanding fashion on Dec 17.
It is also Singapore’s first silat gold at the 33rd SEA Games.
Teammate Sheik Ferdous Sheik Alau’ddin won silver on the same day, falling 5-26 to Nguyen Duy Tuyen of Vietnam in the men’s Class I 85-90kg final.
Singapore silat exponent Dhani Andika Razali (left) won the men's Under 45kg final at the 33rd SEA Games. Photo: SportSG/ Yodsawat Ratanapitaktep
Dhani, 20, defeated Mustakim Khoirudin of Indonesia 41-21 at the Impact Forum in Bangkok, improving on his bronze finish from the 2023 Games. After trailing in the first round, the Singaporean surged to a 15-9 lead but received a point deduction that narrowed his advantage to just one point.
“I just thought to myself that most of my kicks are going to go in, and he doesn’t have much defence against the weapons I have. So I told myself, ‘You know what? He’s not going to be better than me, not this time.’ I just had to focus,” said Dhani, who fought without his glasses on.
“Honestly, I feel like I can see 60 per cent of him. The rest is just muscle memory and me anticipating whatever he’s going to do.”
Putting in more hours in the gym and doing dedicated cardiovascular training under the supervision of the team at Sport Singapore’s High Performance Sport Institute also paid off for the 2023 bronze medallist.
“That bronze broke my heart, because at the time, I knew I could be the champion. But coming into the SEA Games this time, I figured this is my time to shine. Everything went right for me and all the gears were locked in,” he added.
Dhani described representing Singapore as being “everything” to him, recalling how he first got inspired to pick up the sport after watching the likes of world champions Sheik Ferdous and Sheik Farhan Sheik Alau’ddin compete on home ground during the 2018 Pencak Silat World Championships.
Ferdous, 29, said of his younger teammate: “I’m surprised that he said that, and it’s an honour to inspire the younger ones to be like me or to be better than me. If I can pave the way for the younger generation, then by all means, I am very proud of all the young ones. They really showed their strength in this campaign, and the future looks bright for silat.”
The two-time world champion is not too disappointed by his loss, noting his opponent’s pedigree as a five-time world and SEA Games champion.
“I knew he was a big obstacle to overcome, but I did my best, and there are no regrets in the arena. I’m just sad about the result, but that’s part and parcel of sport,” added Ferdous.
“Performance-wise, I left it all in there and he was the better fighter today. I have to accept the loss but I don’t feel disheartened or demoralised. But don’t worry, I’ll get back. This is just one step closer to winning the SEA Games gold medal.”
Singapore’s silat exponents conclude their SEA Games campaign with one gold, two silvers and two bronzes.
The 33rd SEA Games are held in Thailand from 9 to 20 December 2025. For the latest Team Singapore coverage and news, follow Team Singapore on their social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) or visit the official Team Singapore website.