Kualalumpur: With preparations for the ISTAF SuperSeries INDIA 2013/14 underway, the intensity of training and the height of rivalry between competing nations are in its element.
Defending champions Thailand and hosts India are leaving no stones unturned as they gear up for sepaktakraw’s most spectacular event at the K.D.Jadhav Hall, Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi from August 29-September 1.


The Thai team leads the challenge in the 12-team men’s category, and are joined by Malaysia, South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, Japan, Brunei, Philippines, India, United States, Myanmar and Iran while in the eight-team women’s division, the formidable Thais have for company India, Vietnam, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, Indonesia and China.
However, a veil of secrecy permeates the air as several national associations prefer to keep training programmes and final selection squad for the ISTAF SuperSeries INDIA 2013/14 under wraps, a common practice among Southeast Asian nations.


The India team, however, are more open with their aspirations.


Sepaktakraw Federation of India (STFI) secretary-general, Yogender Singh Dahiya, said the stage is set for an exciting start, and an explosive finish, as they welcome the top 12 men’s and eight women’s teams comprising of more than 200 players and officials from 14 nations.


"We're delighted to play hosts to the ISTAF SuperSeries event, which will go a big way in popularising sepaktakraw in India. This will be a big step for Indian sepaktakraw and provide tremendous exposure to the sport among Indian sports fans,” said Yogender.


"The interest in the sport is bound to increase a great deal and we hope it will attract youngsters to take up the sport. Live telecast of the event will provide tremendous exposure for sepaktakraw, which made its Asian Games debut in 1990.”


The Indian sports fans got their first glimpse of sepaktakraw when it was introduced as a demonstration sport in the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi.


"India's performance graph in international competitions over the years has played a key role in the SuperSeries coming to India. In the ISTAF SuperSeries 2011/12 edition, India’s men’s team qualified for the semi-finals. We are certainly hoping to improve on this and we have, of course, intensified our training methods,” said Yogender.


He added that selection for the Indian national teams was based on the performance of players in the 24th Senior National Championships. Twenty-seven state teams and one department team competed in the championships with Manipur State team emerging champions.


There are currently more than 6,000 sepaktakraw players in the second-most populous country in the world with over 1.2 billion people.


The leading players in the men’s team are Nanao Singh (server), G. Jiteshwor Sharma (feeder) while the strikers are Kh. Niken Singh and Y.Akash Singh. On the women’s front, hopes are high on Jimi Devi (server), Maipak Devi (feeder), E.BinalataandChouba Devi (strikers).


The 14 nations will also compete in the second leg in Bangkok, Thailand from Sept 26-29, the third leg – ISTAF SuperSeries MALAYSIA 2013/14 in Kota Kinabalau, Sabah from October 29 to November 3 before concluding with the ISTAF SuperSeries FINALS 2-13/14. The finals will be announced at a later date.


However, as the Indians move into top gear, the Thais and Indonesians are keeping a low profile. Malaysia’s preparations for the ISTAF SuperSeries INDIA 2013/14 suffered a setback after they were comfortably beaten by Myanmar 2-1 in the final of the Four Nations Championships held in Kuala Lumpur recently.


Yogenderacknowledged that Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Myanmar are superior in the men’s division while in the women’s category, the Vietnamese, South Koreans and Thais will be the teams to beat.