IOC application to recognise Sepak takraw as Olympic sport

Kota Kinabalu: The International Sepak Takraw Federation will be making an application to have sepak takraw recognised as an Olympic sport early next year.Its secretary general Dato Abdul Halim Kader disclosed this at a press conference held at the Likas Sports Complex where the ISTAF SuperSeries Malaysia 2013/14 is being held.

Halim who is also the Asian Sepak Takraw Federation president, said in the coming months they will compile a profile based on the footstage from the SuperSeries in Kota Kinabalu to convince the International Olympic Council (IOC).

He said efforts have been made to bring the sports to the Olympics for the past eight years as they targeted 2020 as the year to feature sepak takraw in the games.

"Before we go to the IOC, we must make known that it is a cheaper, grassroots game that will not burden the host country."

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"And sepak takraw must also be played by 75 countries throughout the world to have the sport to be considered in the Olympics."

He added that the federation must be strong and in this aspect, it is the ISTAF who controls the sports and the administration and the mission of the body must be made clear.

"It is important to show how we can bring the sports from six countries to 30 or 50 countries worldwide and what the time line is.

All this will be taken into consideration."

"Lastly, the number of competitors also played a major role as a huge number will not be in favour by the council. Therefore in takraw, we are now trimming it down to regu with two reserves and we may also recommend the double so that it will two gold madels in the games when the time arrives."

ISTAF deputy president II Boon Chai Lorhpipat added that with the latest technology, they are trying to make the sport attractive to a world wide audience and he thanked the Sabah government and the Sabah Sepak Takraw Association (Astaka) for their inputs in providing the minimum 1400 lux to accommodate the high density camera.

"With slow motion action available on the screen, the rest of the world can see how attractive the game is and it is the essential part in promoting the sports especially to the Europeans."

Meanwhile, Astaka was given more than RM100,000 worth of equipment by ISTAF's Boonchai at a brief ceremony held before the match on Saturday morning.

Abdul Halim said it was for the appreciation of the state body for their success in hosting the international tournament.

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He said Astaka was chosen as the host for the event because it has an excellent track record, having hosted six international and invitational tournaments where it managed to attract a number of foreign countries.

"And because of that the trust given by ISTAF to Astaka to be the host is in line with the Malaysia Sepak Takraw Association's objective to get its affiliates to play a global role in promoting the sport."

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