NI MADE Sridevi was devastated. This pencak silat athlete did not make it through the selection process. However, a blessing in disguise was coming her way. She was offered a position in the kabbadi team. “I just tried it, even though I didn’t know what it was like,” she said.

Pencak silat athletes were the shortcuts. “The assumption is that what is needed is flexibility and toughness,” said Ngurah Ardhana, Indonesia’s team manager.