~* mY rEmiNiScEncES *~

Published on 2014 Incheon Asian Games official blog on February 25, 2014: http://blog.incheon2014ag.com/sepak-takraw/

First introduced and contested in the Asian Games 1990 in Beijing, China, sepak takraw (kick volleyball) is a sport native to Southeast Asia. The name itself came from two languages: “sepak” defined as “kick” in Malay; Takraw a “rattan ball” in Thai. It is found in the cultures of Southeast Asia as early as in the 11th century: Takraw in Thailand, Sipa in Philippines, Sepak Raga in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, Chin Loon in Myanmar, Rago in Indonesia and Kator in Laos. It is also very similar to the “Cuju”, an ancient Chinese ball game and Japanese traditional game, “Kemari” that involves kicking a ball into the air and counting the number of kicks.

Sepak takraw is a spectacular mix of football, volleyball, baseball, badminton and gymnastics. It is a competitive skill ball game which requires the use of the feet and head to keep the ball. Unlike any other sports, it is one of the toughest games in the world that postulates flash reflexes, precise control and gravity-defying leaps.

The standard Sepak Takraw courts are similar to the badminton court with the following dimension.

The distinctive playing styles have evolved over the years. These are a few notable ball-service styles that are executed today:

Horse-kick: the player kicks the ball using the foot sole

Sunback or Stingray spike: the player jumps and kicks the ball over the same shoulder as their kicking foot.

Roll spike: the player kicks over the opposite shoulder.

Cartwheel: the player spikes with the in-step.

The South Korean Sepaktakraw national team have been gaining momentum with several wins in recent events.  In the 1st Sepaktarkaw ISTAF Super Series competition held last September, Korea defeated top seeded Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand to come out victorious.

The ISTAF Super Series is an international sepaktakraw competition organized by the International Sepaktakraw Federation.  It gathers the best team to compete in a series of tournaments to see which country is the best.

Another successful outing by the South Korean team both women and men, was at the World Championships.  This time, the top seeded national teams were determined to avenge their defeats.  However, Korea men’s team did succeed in winning a silver (regu), and 2 bronze (double, team event).  The women team won a silver (regu) and bronze (team event).

Sepak Takraw, also known as one of the strangest games in the world will be featured at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.  The Southeast Asian teams are favorite to win but with the home ground support behind Korea’s team, who knows which way the ball will land.  Get ready to be amazed by the jaws-dropping movements and the exciting matches!

The official 2014 Incheon Asian Games Writer ‘IAG-Crew’ ㅣKit Yee, Thoong