Asian Geographic - 08.2018

“The sport... aims to

promote and foster a spirit

of camaraderie, friendship

and unity among athletes

and officials”

Abdul Halim Kader, ISTAF secretary-general

sePak takraw:

how to Play

There are two teams,

called regus, of three

players each

Each ball in the

opponent’s court

scores a point. The

first regu to get 21

points wins

1835

Thailand formalises the

game with rules and a net

1945

Malaysia formalises the

game with rules and a net

1965

Sepak takraw is a medal

sport at the SEA Games

1990

Sepak takraw is a medal

sport at the Beijing Asiad

1992

The International Sepak

Takraw Federation is formed

sePak takraw: a brief history

Playing on a modified badminton doubles

court, athletes primarily use gravity-defying

kicking techniques and airborne manoeuvres

to spike the ball into the opponent’s side. Like

soccer, the use of hands is prohibited.

Though matches for sepak takraw

have largely remained regional – Asiad

being its biggest sporting platform – this

quintessentially Southeast Asian discipline

might soon be upgraded to the Olympic level.

“With the continuing growth of the sport

around the globe, the International Sepak

Takraw Federation (ISTAF) is confident

that in the near future, sepak takraw will be

recognised by the International Olympic

Committee (IOC),” says ISTAF secretary-

general, Abdul Halim Kader.

It was reported in 2016 that the IOC had

invited the ISTAF to submit an application

for the sport to be included in the Olympics

lineup, with the federation aiming to do so by

2017. Previously, sepak takraw also found its
      way into the 1998 Commonwealth Games as a
      demonstration event.

Each player has a

maximum of three

moves to serve the

ball over the net

(^21)
Sony α9, f/3.5, 1/800s, ISO 4000
DATA SOURCES: PERSES, GEOCITIES, PEARL JACOBA, SEPAK TAKRAW
ASSOCIATION OF CANADA, BANGKOK.COM, CHANNEL NEWSASIA