Hey, do you like football? Do you search for sensational goals compilation videos on YouTube? Then bicycle kick must not be a new thing to you surely. It’s an out of the world way to score a goal, right? Every time you see a goal from bicycle kick, you go crazy and don’t you feel lucky to be watching the match live?
But how
often a goal from bicycle kick is scored in football? Not so often, nah? What
about a sport in which you can see players not only performing that outrageous
bicycle kick every minute but also controlling the shot to another level… You
don’t believe my words, isn’t it? Well, here’s a sport for you then. Let me introduce you to SEPAK TAKRAW- The Unthinkable
Acrobatic Ball Game.
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| Source- Instagram |
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| Source- Instagram |
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| Court dimension |Image by- wikimedia |
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| Sepak Takraw Ball| Image by- wikimedia |
So,
basically it’s kick volleyball. Wait! It’s kick volleyball, not that proper
foot volleyball you already know, it’s far more intense and eyebrow
rising. The three-a-side sport is mostly
played in South and South-East Asia, Malaysia being the inventor of the sport,
their National Sport by the way. Though
medal tally at events show the domination of Thailanders, those who introduced
the new version of the game. San enough for Malaysia, that they couldn’t
replicate the domination India have in the field of Kabaddi. Well, by the by, India grabbed the bronze medal in Sepak Takraw at 2018 Asian Games,
their first in this sport. Wait, don’t underestimate the game, though it
started its own World Cup only in 2011, the latest one had 32 participating
countries. Yup! 32 it is. Well, still even those other 31 countries couldn’t
stop Thailand from winning their 2nd title in the 2nd
ISTAF World Cup. Wait, that’s not all, they also have a world cup for females
too.
Men’s Sepak Takraw
World Cup Stats (Source: Wikipedia)
Women’s Sepak
Takraw World Cup Stats (Source: Wikipedia)
Well, interesting
enough, there was a time (Maybe even now at places) the sepak takraw ball used
to be made of Rattan (Yes, that rattan or ‘bet’ that used to crash on our back
at the childhood, after every act of mischief). Though now it mainly comes in
synthetic fiber or synthetic rubber.
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| Bronze Medal winning Indian Sepak Takraw Team| Source- Instagram |
How it is played:
A match is
played by two teams called ‘regu’, each consisting of three players. On some
occasions, it can be played by only two players (doubles) or four players
(quadrant) per team.
One of the players shall be at back; he/she is called a “Tekong” or also known as “server”. The other two players shall be in front, one on the left and the other on the right. The player on the left is called a “feeder/setter/tosser” and the player on the right is called a “attacker/striker/killer”. So, you are wise enough to figure what is each one’s role. So, server serves, tosser tosses and killer tries to kill the game. And the rapidly moving three setter game stuns you with every kick. Players’ flexibility, balance, body movements will drive you mad. Extension of their legs, crazy body blocks, unthinkable headed returns are jaw-dropping, surely.
And yep, overhead
kicks, well, they have varieties of it in their bag. Overhead smash, overhead
tap or may be only overhead faint touch with the back of the shoes to fool the
opponent blocker and don’t know how many more. I just can’t name them all. It’s
nothing but pure crazy and brave skill show. Well, obviously brave enough! Just think about it- one player is performing
overhead smash and you don’t think twice to put you head in the way!
Source- Instagram
Yes!!! SEPAK TAKRAW
for you!!!
Well! The sport is sometimes misnamed
by foreigners as “Shaolin Soccer” for a reason!
Article by:
Arpan Purkait
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