Sepak takraw to feature in Sindh Games

Unusual sport makes its provincial debut from tomorrow.

KARACHI: Sepak takraw, the traditional Thai-Malay sport, will make its Sindh Games debut when the provincial event takes off tomorrow in Mirpurkhas.

Sepak takraw is a traditional Southeast Asian sport that uses a rattan ball and allows players to use their feet, knee, chest and head to touch the ball.

The Sindh Olympic Association (SOA) decided to include the men’s event in order to promote the sport which has been played in Pakistan for a decade now.

“We’re always looking for something new that can make the provincial games interesting and Sepak takraw is an unusual sport that can do just that,” SOA Secretary Ahmed Ali Rajput told The Express Tribune. “We were sceptical about adding it but the officials invited us to watch a match they had organised for us. We found it very interesting and extremely athletic.

“The committee really enjoyed the sport so we decided to include it in the Games.”

Meanwhile, according to Sindh Sepak takraw Association Secretary Nushad Ahmed Khan, entry into the Sindh Games was a huge step for the sport. He hoped that the sport will be given a permanent slot from next year and that the women’s discipline will also be added to the provincial games.

“It took the SOA a decade to recognise the sport,” said Khan. “It’s a huge deal for us. Currently, most of the players are from Sindh as we began promoting the sport in Karachi. Having the Games in Mirpurkhas also provides us with an opportunity to introduce the sport in interior Sindh which means that we can find more talent that will help us in international events later this year.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 29^th, 2012.