INDIA TO SEND FORMIDABLE TEAM FOR WORLD SEPAK TAKRAW MEET

P. VIJIAN

NEW DELHI, April 18 (Bernama) -- India are planning to send a formidable
team to participate in the World Sepak Takraw Championship held in Peninsular
Malaysia's east coast state of Terengganu next month.

The Sepak Takraw Federation of India (STFI) president Dr R.S. Dagar said
India are currently preparing a senior team for the tournament slated at Stadium
Negeri in Terengganu from May 25-31.

"We have yet to receive an official invitation from the Malaysian officials
but we are preparing our senior players, both men and women for the tournament.
We will select the final team this month," Dagar told Bernama.

India are hosting the Federation Cup in Mizoram, a north-eastern state in
India, later this month where STFI hope finalise the selection of players for
the world championship.

Sepak Takraw or known as the "kick volleyball" is fast becoming a popular
sport in India, which is more of a cricket and hockey-playing nation.

The sport came into prominence in India when STFI was formed 1982 in
conjunction with the 1982 New Delhi Asian Games and since then India had been
participating in international events, especially in the Kings Cup in Thailand.

It is widely popular in north-eastern states like Assam, Manipur and
Mizoram.

"We certainly won't be underdogs because we have regular players and have
experience in international events compared with new comers like China and the
US (United States). But it will be tough competing against countries like
Thailand or Malaysia," he added.

About 20 countries are expected to play in the RM250,000 prize-money
offering World Championship, jointly organised by Terengganu and the Malaysian
Sepak Takraw Association. (US$1=RM3.61)
--BERNAMA