Sepaktakraw Championship May 18 and 19 at SJC

The Amateur Sepaktakraw Association of Sri Lanka will conduct their 10th Championship at the Indoor Sports Complex of St. Joseph’s College, Darley road on may 18 and 19 from 12 noon with the finals of the two events (Regu & The double events) scheduled for 3 pm on may 19.

The Director General of Sports Ministry Mrs. Ranjani Jayakody will be the chief guest. A thing of note is that a majority of participants are from the outstations and from under-privileged families.What is Sepaktakraw?It is a game played between two sides on a rectangular court (the size of a badminton court) with a ball woven of synthetic fibre consisting of 12 holes and twenty intersections weighing between 170gm and 180gm for men and from 150gm to 160 gm for women.

Previously this ball was made of rattan. A team consist of three players to a side, and recently events consisting of two players to a side, mixed team of two women and two men and Beach Sepaktakraw games have been introduced. The game is similar to Volleyball but played with the feet, head or any part of the body without the use of the arms. Spiking with the foot and blocking with the foot or body is done airbone at the net which is 1.55 m in hight and erected at the centre dividing the court into two equal halves.

The winner of a game is decided either in the best of three sets or five sets, and a set is of 15 points. This is a game for both boys and girls over 12 years and adults fit enough to accept the challenge to become more fitter.The player’s attire will consist of T’shirt/jersey, short and sports shoes with rubber soles can be worn.

A player is required to be very flexible, agile and display speed of movement. The player will be trained under expert supervision and guidance involving gymnastic, yoga exercises, and an element of martial arts, which will develop him or her the confidence to adjust the balance between studies and sports, and vocation and recreation. Besides an opportunity also will arise to participate in Sepaktakraw competitions overseas.