Sepaktakraw may not be a very popular world sport. The game demands adept skills at controlling the ball. Takraw is the hand-woven ball used in a Sepaktakraw competition. Played on a court resembling a badminton court, Sepaktakraw is all about hitting the ball into the opponent's court as they try to block your way.
However, Sepaktakraw players are not allowed to use their hands. The ball is to be hit above the net using legs, head or shoulders.
Thus, a game of Sepaktakraw witnesses acrobatic movements by athletes. Introduced and developed in Malaysia, Sepaktakraw got this name in 1960.
It was earlier known as 'Sepak Raga'. The sport was first introduced in the Southeast Asian Games as a medal event in the same year.
Sepak takraw or kick volleyball is a sport native to Southeast Asia, resembling volleyball, except that it uses a rattan ball and only allows players to use their feet, knee, chest and head to touch the ball.
It is a popular sport in Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Laos, Philippines and Indonesia. In Thailand, the game is simply called takraw. It is also thuck thay (Lao: "twine" and "kick")while in Malaysia it is sometimes called sepak raga. In the Philippines it is known as sipa, meaning "kick".
