Sepak Takraw is a popular sport played in Southeast Asia which combines aspects of soccer and volleyball. It is played using a rattan ball and players are not allowed to use their hands or arms, only their feet, legs, chest and head. The sport is popular in Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia, and is played competitively in international tournaments.
The origins of Sepak Takraw can be traced back to a game called 'Kemari' in Japan, which was played in the 16th century.
The modern version of Sepak Takraw was first played in Malaysia in the 1940s.
The sport became popular in Southeast Asia in the 1960s and 1970s.
Sepak Takraw was included in the Asian Games for the first time in 1990.
Today, there are several international organizations that govern the sport, including the International Sepak Takraw Federation.
Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players (singles) or two opposing pairs (doubles). Players use racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net. The sport is popular in several countries, particularly in Asia.
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. The goal of the game is to send the ball over the net and to ground it on the other team's court, and to prevent the same effort by the opponent.
Soccer is a team sport played with a spherical ball between two teams of 11 players. It is the most popular sport in the world and is played in almost every country.
A Sepak Takraw ball is a small, rattan ball used to play the sport. It is roughly the size of a volleyball and is made from woven strips of rattan.
A Sepak Takraw net is used to separate the two teams during gameplay. It is around five feet high and is placed at the center of the court.
A Sepak Takraw court is a rectangular area where the game is played. It is typically around 44 feet long and 20 feet wide.
Sepak Takraw is primarily played in Southeast Asia, particularly in Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. It is also played in other parts of Asia and has gained some popularity in other countries, including the United States.
A rattan ball is used in Sepak Takraw. It is roughly the size of a volleyball and is made by weaving strips of rattan together.
No, players are not allowed to use their hands or arms in Sepak Takraw. They can only use their feet, legs, chest, and head to hit the ball over the net.
Sepak Takraw is not currently an Olympic sport, but it has been included in other multi-sport events, including the Asian Games and the Southeast Asian Games.
Scoring in Sepak Takraw is similar to volleyball. Points are earned when the ball lands within the opposing team's court or when the opposing team commits a fault. The first team to reach 21 points (with a lead of at least two points) wins the set.