You could be fiercely – even insufferably – proud of being Malaysian, and as intimately familiar with our country’s icons, quirks and general attributes as the back of your Aedes mosquito bite bump-riddled hand. You hold symbolic heirlooms like Nasi Lemak, the suffix ‘lah’, Lat comic strips, Proton Sagas and durians close to your lacerated, bleeding chest (because durians are sharp and pointy). You are Malaysian down to your kidneys. But you wouldn’t know Sepak Takraw if its hard, woven rattan ball smacked you in the face (as it may have done many times before).

Admittedly not uniquely Malaysian, Sepak Takraw is nevertheless a Malaysian native (second-class, and relegated to the edges of our hallowed badminton courts and football pitches though it may be). So if your knowledge of the sport is in need of a flying kick start, read on.

History

Sepak Takraw is thought to have originated in the Melaka sultanate in the 15th century, when it began spreading to the islands of Indonesia and the rest of Southeast Asia. It has many monikers across the region—‘Sepak Raga’ in Singapore and Brunei; ‘Takraw’ in Thailand; ‘Sipa’ in the Philippines; ‘Kator’ in Laos; ‘Rago’ in Indonesia; ‘Ching Loong’ in Myanmar and ‘Da Cau’ in Vietnam.

Though ASEAN residents have been getting a ‘kick’ out of the game for centuries, it was only in 1960 that the sport’s representatives from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Laos and Thailand agreed on standardised rules and regulations for the game, and formed the Asian Sepaktakraw Federation (ASTAF). Today, 28 countries (including Canada… Canada!) have national associations with representatives on the board of the global governing body, the International Sepaktakraw Federation (ISTAF).

The first international Sepak Takraw competition was appropriately held in Malaysia during the 1965 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. It has also become a medal sport in the Asian Games and Asian Beach Games.

Popularity

Sepak Takraw is a national sport in Thailand (a Takraw powerhouse), where national matches are often sold-out, and people of all ages can be seen playing the game anywhere there’s an open space. Former US colony the Philippines, for all its infatuation with basketball, also lists Sepak Takraw as a national sport.

How it’s played (…or, ‘what on earth is going on?’)

Often referred to as ‘kick volleyball’, Sepak Takraw can best be described as a spectacular blend of football, volleyball and high-flying acrobatics. It requires quick reflexes, explosive energy, breath-taking agility and alarmingly elastic and extendable legs.

A game comprises two teams of three players, each on opposite sides of a court (similar in size to a doubles badminton court). The teams are divided by a net, and must pass the ball using only their legs, torso and heads. Similar to volleyball, each team is only allowed to touch the ball three times before mandatorily passing it over the net.

For an in-depth illustration of Sepak Takraw that’ll keep you awake, watch this awesome video tutorial (in Thai, with English subtitles):

Based on an article published in www.GoAsean.com