Sepak takraw making its way to Olympics, says Asian Sepak Takraw Federation president

BINTULU (Aug 23): The Asian Sepak Takraw Federation (Astaf) and the International Sepak Takraw Federation (Istaf) will push for the sport to be included in future Olympic Games.

In stating this, Astaf president Datuk Abdul Halim Kader said the federations are eyeing for a slot in the sports event at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games (LA28).

Abdul Halim, also Istaf secretary-general, said for a new sport to be approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), it must meet official criteria as outlined under the rules of the Olympic Charter.

“Sepak takraw has not been included in the Olympics because the IOC has set 37 criteria, including the requirements for the sport to be widely practised by men and women on world-level competitions, and being a youth-driven sport event, among others.

“We meet those requirements, and there are also countries that are actively seeking the sport’s recognition such as Indonesia and India.

“The first task now is to make a formal application to IOC and this will be most crucial,” he said at a press conference after the Sukma XXI sepak takraw event at Stadium Muhibbah here on Thursday.

At the same event, Abdul Halim disclosed that the Sepak Takraw Association of Malaysia (PSM) and Iftar had unanimously agreed to nominate Sarawak’s men and women teams to represent Malaysia in the Asian Beach Sepak Takraw Championship in China this Sept 17 to 24.

“PSM president Datuk Mohd Sumali Reduan has requested that young Sarawak players who have shown good performance in this Sukma XXI be selected to represent the country.

“He has also asked the Sarawak Sepak Takraw Association (PSS) to nominate the team manager and players for the upcoming tournament in China,” he said, adding that PSS had been tasked to select their best six men’s and six women’s teams.

Sarawak, he said, was chosen because of the state’s success in hosting the sports events at the Sukma Games, as well as due to its sports coaching and leadership aspects, facilities, and technical support.

“The selection is highly appropriate because the PSM delegation was brought here with the best possible coordination,” he commended.

Adding on, he said a referee training course will also be held to select 30 youths, under the age of 45 or 40 years old to elevate the PSM referees to the Astaf level.

“PSM and Astaf will collaborate with PSS to conduct sepak takraw referee training course either in Kuching or Miri, for the upgrading of 30 national-level PSM referees to the Asian (Astaf) level,” he explained.

This initiative, he said, was to prepare them for future international sporting events, such as in Malaysia’s bid to host the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games).

PSS president Dato Ismail Abang Saufi, meanwhile, said the association has yet to decide on the list of players for the upcoming Asian Beach Sepak Takraw Championship in China.