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| Sunday, 12 May 2002 |
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Sports |  |
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Bronze
for Sri Lanka men and women
by Lal Gunasekera Sri Lanka's men and women won the bronze medal at the 17th King's Cup World Sepaktakraw Championship worked off last month (April) in Thailand. The men's team were able to retain the bronze medal in division III, narrowly missing the silver medal losing to Germany in a close and tight game. It was the first occasion that a women's team participated in division II and won the bronze medal playing against India, Laos, Brazil and Pakistan. Speaking to the Sunday Observer Nizam Hajireen, President of the Amateur Sepaktakraw Association of Sri Lanka (ASASL) who is a double international in soccer and rugby, said that Sri Lanka teams have been invited to participate in South Korea later this month (May), Singapore in August and Vietnam in October, and that the Lankan players (both men and women) are in training at the CR&FC basketball courts every weekend. Hajireen further said that both the International Sepaktakraw Federation (ISTAF) and the Asian Sepaktakraw Federation (ASTAF) has recognised the ASASL which he formed in 1991, and that he has been duly recognised and rewarded by both these bodies. He is a Vice-President of ASTAF and Secretary of the Disciplinary Committee and Executive Committee member of the ISTAF, apart from being a qualified coach, international referee, technical delegate and member of the Jury at various international tournaments. The ISTAF has also accepted many changes in the rules and laws of the game recommended by Hajireen during the last seven years. Sepaktakraw is a skill ball game originating from Asia. It was recorded in the culture in the South-East Asian region as early as the 11th century. The game was called Takraw in Thailand, Sipa in the Philippines, Sepakraga in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, Ching Loong in Myanmar (Burma) Rago in Indonesia and Kator in Laos. Even in Sri Lanka it was known as Raage in the late 1940s and early 1950. In 1960 the rules and regulations were standardised and the official name of the sport became Sepaktakraw. Sepak is a Malay word which means 'kick' and Takraw is a Thai word for 'ball'. The sport uses Malay and Thai words because the game originates from Malaysia and the rules from Thailand. Sepaktakraw requires the use of the feet and head to keep the ball in the air in a targeted direction. It is akin to playing volleyball with the feet and head instead of the hands and has only three players to a side with two reserves. The sport was exposed to global recognition in 1988 with the formation of the International Sepaktakraw Federation (ISTAF), while the Asian body is the Asian Sepaktakraw Federation (ASTAF). In conclusion, Hajireen, thanked various persons for their generous contributions made towards the ASASL and particularly to SriLankan Airlines for helping the teams to fly to Bangkok where they won bronze medals. He said that he will try to raise 12 teams from different parts of the country and promote the game. |
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