English: Reporting writes;

The Pacu Xpang dance opened the traditional sports performances by ASEAN countries on the second day (August 10th) of the ASEAN Sports Day on the north side of the Prambanan Temple courtyard in Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta.

The Pacu Xpang dancers, dressed in contrasting costumes of red shirts, yellow scarves, knee-length pants, and sunglasses, strutted through obstacles, greeted by cheers from the audience.

Pacu Xpang is a traditional art form from Sleman Regency, similar to Kuda Kepang, a traditional Javanese art form. In Pacu Xpang, performers consist of several people riding imitation bamboo horses.

Some horses are ridden by one dancer, others by two, and still others by three. The imitation horses and their riders race, jumping or weaving under a pole-like device made of iron.

The next performance was from Brunei Darussalam. This country presented the Gasing, a traditional game familiar to Indonesians. The winner of this game is the one who can keep the spinning top spinning for the longest time. This game teaches concentration and focus.

KUN Lbokator is the highlight of the Cambodian performance. Three bare-chested men, one bare-handed, and the other two carrying weapons such as a machete and a shield, perform martial arts stunts. The audience occasionally screams as one of the performers falls or is hit during a fight.

The traditional game presented by Malaysia is equally exciting. This country showcases Rebut Negeri (Country Top). Rebut Negeri is a game in which two teams must defend their respective "territory" to prevent the other team from being pulled into their territory.

The second game from Malaysia involves dribbling a circular object (iron) using a rod. The winner is the one who manages to dribble the circle to the finish line without falling. During this performance, the audience even scrambled to try it out because of the excitement.

The Philippines presents three traditional games: Ketika-Saat Sabao, Binnurang Itan, and Trumpo/Sunay. Ketika-Saat Sabao is similar to stilts in Indonesia, using cleaned and ground coconut shells. A hole is then drilled in the center to secure a rope to pull the coconut shell up.

Binnurang Itan is a two-person game designed to test strength and balance. Similar to Indonesia and Brunei, the Philippines also has a traditional game similar to spinning tops, commonly called Trumpo/Sunay. In the Philippines, this game is typically played by more than one person in a competition. The winner is the one whose Trumpo/Sunay spins the longest.

Thailand, a country renowned for the martial art Muay Thai, features Wai Kru. Wai Kru is a body movement that is actually a ritual performed before a Muay Thai match. The word "Wai" means to pay respect, while "Kru" means teacher. So, Wai Kru literally means to pay respect to the teacher.

Wai Kru begins with a basic salute, bringing the palms together in front of the chest. This is followed by a series of dance movements typical of Muay Thai. The movements are usually accompanied by traditional Thai music, adding to the sacred atmosphere.

The Timor-Leste delegation was also enthusiastic and enthusiastic in showcasing their traditional game called Kaleik. This game involves dexterity, speed, and teamwork. Kaleik is often played by children and teenagers, but can also be enjoyed by adults. Kaleik is generally played by two opposing teams.

Each team consists of several players. The equipment used in this game is a small ball made from natural materials such as wood or fruit. The Kaleik playing field has no fixed boundaries and can be adjusted to suit the surrounding conditions. Players from each team will try to control the ball and get it into the opponent's territory.

The closing performance of the 2024 ASD was by the Indonesian delegation. The Indonesian delegation, from Bangka Belitung Province, won the best performance at the July 2024 National Traditional Sports Festival in Parigi Moutong. The game featured is Bal Lipang Sahang.

This game is typically played during the white or black pepper harvest. It's played by two teams of three players each. Each team holds a piece of cloth stretched out to pass or receive the ball. The winner is the team that scores the most points by catching and keeping the ball from dropping.

Playing traditional sports isn't just about "playing," it's also about learning to become part of "cultural preservation efforts." Amidst the prevalence of modern games in our lives, the existence of traditional sports is certainly becoming increasingly difficult to maintain. ASEAN Sports Day, held in Indonesia this year, provides an opportunity for ASEAN countries to work together to preserve traditional sports, so that the younger generation can rekindle their interest in traditional sports. (tb)