Sepaktakraw: Sri Lanka teams falter in quarters at World Championship

The 31st King’s Cup World Sepaktakraw Championships was held from October 17 to 23 at the Fashion Island Mall, Bangkok , Thailand, with the participation of over 700 participants from Asia, Middle-East, Europe , North America, and Australia.

The Championship was held in a somber atmosphere in view of the demise of the Thais’ much adored and loved King Bhumiphol who passed away on October 13, thus creating serious concern whether the demise of the King would result in a postponement of the Championship billed for October 17 since most countries had planned to arrive in Thailand as early as October 14.

Whilst some countries were in Thailand weeks before the Championship to attend training in preparation for the Championship. 

Taking into consideration all these the organisers had obtained Government sanction to go ahead with the Championship without open fanfare and celebrations. 

A record number of participants (700) descended on Bangkok for the Championship and all contestants were provided black arm-bands to be worn during the competitions. 

However the organisers in order to cut short the competition dates had changed the format of the competition by grouping all teams into two groups, the Premier Division and Division one, whereas in previous years the organisers had division two as well enabling lesser developed countries like Sri Lanka the chance of winning Medals. 

Sri Lanka was grouped in Division – 1 along with France, and Cambodia, in the Men’s’ Regu – Event and defeated France two sets to one and lost to Cambodia two sets to nil, which enabled Cambodia to head the group by defeating France two sets to nil. 

Only the Group leaders in each group progressed to the quarter-finals. 

Likewise in the Women's Regu – Event too, Sri Lanka was drawn with France and Indonesia. 

The Sri Lanka Women’s team defeated France by two sets to nil , and lost to Indonesia after a very brave effort by 2 sets to 0. Indonesia advanced to the quarter-finals. 

The Sri Lanka Women's Team entered two Events at the Championship in the women's category namely - Regu and Double Events. 

In the Double Event too Sri Lanka defeated France and Pakistan but lost to Philippines and could not proceed to the quarter-finals.  

In the Men’s’ category Sri Lanka entered three Events, namely Regu Event, Doubles – Event, and Team Event. 

They could not proceed beyond the quarter-final stage due to playing against strong and world ranked teams. 

The Men’s team was captained by Gazally Razaak whilst the Women’s team was captained by Samanthi Guneththi. 

Teams were coached by T. P. Hajireen and Chareendra De Silva respectively under the guidance of President of the Association Nizam Hajireen who is a qualified International Coach and Technical Administrator of the International Sepaktakraw Federation. 

In conjunction with the King’s Cup Championship The Asian Sepaktakraw Federation commonly known as ASTAF held its’ Congress to elect new Office-Bearers and Sri Lanka’s Sepaktakraw President T. Nizam Hajireen was elected unopposed to the one and only post of Senior Vice – President of ASTAF UNTIL 2020. 

Saman Priyankara the Secretary – General of the Sri Lanka Association was elected as a Council member of ASTAF until 2020 which is the first time that two positions were allotted to Sri Lanka.