Jakarta, Oct. 12 -- Culture Minister Fadli Zon urged wider global recognition of pencak silat and stronger support for making the Indonesian martial art an Olympic sport through cultural diplomacy.

He spoke at the opening of the first International Pencak Silat Culture & Heritage Festival in Amersfoort, the Netherlands, on Saturday (Oct 10).

"We share an aspiration for pencak silat to become part of the Olympics. To achieve this, international cooperation and ever wider participation are needed," Fadli said in a statement on Monday.

He hoped pencak silat communities worldwide can help advance the goal while preserving the cultural values and traditions underpinning the art.

Pencak silat blends martial skills, art, traditional music an...