Final sepak takraw trials to start on Saturday
The Lao Sepak Takraw Federation (LSF) will hold a national competition at the indoor court in Phonsavangtai village, Savannakhet province, this weekend.
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Sepak takraw players in action at the eighth National Games in Champassak province. |
The federation aims to select new players from the provinces to join the national team in preparation for the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane in December.
The national team consists of 22 men and 22 women, who are training at the indoor courts at Km 4 in Vientiane .
Lao sepak takraw head coach Mr Lamphone Souvong said the players will again be tested at one last national event prior to the games. The federation is on the lookout for new players to join the national team.
Mr Lamphone said the federation is in search of a mix of new and experienced players, who have the potential to improve and respect federation rules.
Men and women players alike will be divided into four groups for the national competition.
The national teams were selected based on performances at the eighth National Games in Champassak province last December.
There are sepak takraw teams from Vientiane and from Borikhamxay, Khammuan, Champassak and host Savannakhet provinces.
Disappointingly, the northern provinces will not feature at the event. A widely held belief holds that the northern provinces do not have the talent required to compete. Combined with these provinces' preference for other sports, this means the federation does not consider them realistic contenders.
This is the first time the LSF will hold a national event in Savannakhet province, which has the most national team representatives of any province, with six players.
The Lao National Sports Committee appointed a new president of LSF, Mr Atsaphangthong Siphandone, and federation members at the committee's office last February, with a view to improving the national team ahead of the SEA Games.
The national event comprises men's and women's triples, doubles, and singles competititions.
The federation will select 22 men and 22 women from this national event to continue training in Savannakhet.
Mr Lamphone said the federation will whittle down the squad of 44 to 36 at the end of July for the SEA Games.
The federation will send the national squad of 36 to train in Thailand from August to October.
The Lao national team won three bronze medals at the 2007 24th SEA Games in Thailand , and is currently ranked fourth in the world.
Laos has a history of success in the sport.
In the 1996 King's Cup, the Lao national team won a bronze medal in the men's team event and a silver medal in the men's singles. In the same event the following year, they won a bronze medal in the men's team competition.
In the 2000 King's Cup, the team won a bronze medal in the men's team event and a gold medal in the men's singles.
Singles, doubles and team sepak takraw, as well as hoop sepak will feature in the 25th SEA Games.
By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
April 3, 2009
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