International Referee Upgrades Ignite Pencak Silat’s Global Stage: Thailand Hosts High-Stakes Refereeing Crucible Ahead of SEA Games!

The Pencak Silat world is buzzing as 64 international referees and jurors (IRJs) from across Southeast Asia—the Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand (host) and Vietnam, —descend on Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand, for the International SEA Referee-Juror Upgrading Course, held from 5 to 9 October 2025 at the Hat Yai Sport Complex.

This isn’t just a training session—it’s a stakes climb up the global officiating ladder. After assessment and a final exam, Class 3 IRJs are poised to leap to Class 2, and Class 2 referees to Class 1 status—a major career milestone in the world of international Pencak Silat. The urgency is real: the global Pencak Silat scene is booming, and with the mandatory integration of the Digital Scoring System (DCS) and Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology, the demand for top-tier, tech-savvy Class 1 and Class 2 officials has never been higher, as highlighted by IPSF Secretary General Teddy Suratmadji in his opening address.

The course is hosted by the Pencak Silat Association of Thailand (PSAT), in sync with the upcoming SEA Pencak Silat Championship (SEAPSC) 10–15 October, a pre-SEA Games event hosted at the Hansa JB Hotel, Hat Yai, Songkhla Smart City.

But here’s the ultimate challenge: the top performers from this upgrading course will be hand-picked and assigned as international referees for the SEAPSC itself, making this the ultimate proving ground.

While the main event—the 33rd SEA Games Thailand 2025—will later showcase Pencak Silat from 13 to 17 December 2025 at the Jiranakorn Stadium, Hat Yai, due to the ongoing heavy renovations of the dedicated SEA Games Pencak Silat venue, the pre-Games championship is stepping in with full force. Host PSAT President Panu Uthairat confirmed the temporary venue is a necessary yet thrilling alternative. This isn’t just about officiating—it’s about building the future of Pencak Silat on a foundation of precision, fairness, and cutting-edge technology. The referees are ready. The arena is set.