KUALA LUMPUR — Six months after the ISTAF Sepak Takraw World Cup concluded in Kuala Lumpur, there has been little to no progress on the much-discussed ranking system.
The idea of a ranking system for sepak takraw was initially proposed by the International Sepak Takraw Federation in January, with plans to implement it at the next ISTAF Sepak Takraw World Cup.
Fundamentally, introducing the ranking system at the tournament was seen as a step towards gaining recognition from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), potentially paving the way for sepak takraw to be included in the Olympic Games.
However, shortly after the Malaysian squad’s historic triumph at the World Cup—where they not only defeated Thailand but also brought home double titles in the doubles and regu events—the discussions about the ranking system have seemingly faded.
For the record, Malaysian Sepak Takraw (PSM) president Datuk Mohd Sumali Reduan has been appointed chairman of the task force responsible for managing the global sepak takraw ranking system.
Speaking to Scoop, ISTAF secretary-general Datuk Abdul Halim Kader explained that more time is needed to refine the points allocation method for ranking member countries under ISTAF, given that this is the first time a ranking system will be applied in the sport.
He added that they are also considering expanding the ranking system to include additional events, beyond the regu and team regu categories, as sepak takraw now features around five to six events during competitions like the SEA Games and Asian Games.
“We must carefully filter and ensure that this ranking system is well-organised, especially with the Asian Games Nagoya 2026 approaching in two years.
“The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organising Committee (AINAGOC) has requested us to implement a ranking system to determine which countries qualify to compete in the sepak takraw events.
“So far, I have been informed that four events will be contested in Nagoya: regu, team regu, doubles, and quadrant. Therefore, our focus is on finalising the rankings for these four events first,” said Halim when contacted by Scoop.
Halim expects the ranking system to be ready after the Asia Cup in Kuala Lumpur next May.
Since sepak takraw was introduced in the Asian Games in 1990, the average participation for each edition has been around 10 countries, predominantly from Southeast Asia.
The highest participation occurred during the 2018 Games held in Jakarta/Palembang, where 15 countries competed, including teams from Iran, China, Pakistan, and Nepal. — November 4, 2024
