MALAYSIA EDGE SINGAPORE TO FINISH THIRD

Defending champions Malaysia bounced back from a preliminary round defeat against Singapore to turn the tables on their neighbours following a 2-0 victory in the third-fourth placing playoff match in the ISTAF SuperSeries KOREA 2-14/15 at Wolmyeong Arena.

National head coach Abdul Ahmad Talib benched Sahidan Ali (tekong) and KhairolZaman(striker) in the starting line-up and instead introduced HairulHazizi(tekong), team captain ZuleffendiSumari(feeder) and MohdZamree as striker against the Singaporeans.

On the opposite end, Singapore replaced AfifSafiee(striker) who played in the shocking win over Malaysia on Thursday with AsfandiJa’al but maintained  FarhanAmran as tekong and FarhanAman in his feeder role.

The strategy worked in Malaysia’s favour, which emerged champions in ISTAF SuperSeries MALAYSIA 2014/15 - the second round of the series in Malacca two months ago but ran into troubles here in Gunsan, coasting through 21-18, 21-9 wins in 42 minutes.

“It was not what we had targeted for but to beat Singapore and finish third is a good achievement as the players had learned from earlier mistakes,” said Malaysian head coach Abdul Ahmad Talib. “We will return study our performance here to avoid similar situations in the Kings Cup.”

The Malaysians will next compete in the Thai King’s Cup World Championship from May 4-10 and the Southeast Asian Games (SEA) from June 6-15 in Singapore while the fourth leg of the ISTAF SuperSeries is scheduled in September.

Meanwhile, defending champions Thailand won both the men and women’s championships against Korea with identical scores of 2-0. The men’s team won 21-10 and 21-19 while the women were stretched to the limits before winning 21-12, 21-18.

The Mayor of Gunsan City, Moon Dong Shin presented the ISTAF Super Series Trophy to the Thai men’s team.

SittipongKhamchan’s near perfect service accounted for almost 40 percent of the points gained while ThawisakThongsai once again played the leading role as striker, punishing the Koreans with his powerful bicycle kicks.

The Koreans, who won the opening round of the ISTAF SuperSeries INDIA 2013/14 in New Delhi, once again paraded their best line-up that includes ImAnSoo(striker), Park Hyeongeun(tekong) and Jeong Won Deok(feeder).

Nevertheless it was a proud moment for the Korean men and women teams in Gunsan City after both were knocked out in the semi-finals stages at the last series.

“Overall we are very satisfied with our performance here,” said coach Yoo Dong Young. “I believe the men and women’s teams have improved tremendously since the last series in Malacca and now look forward to the Thai King’s Cup World Championships in May.”

Results:

Men’s Final: Thailand bt Korea 2-0 (21-10, 21-19); 3-4^th: Malaysia bt Singapore 2-0 (21-18, 21-9); 5-6^th: Indonesia bt Myanmar 2-1 (21-10, 16-21, 21-17); 7-8^th: Japan bt China 2-0 (21-17, 21-15)

Women’s Final: Thailand bt Korea 2-0 (21-12, 21-18); 3-4^th: Indonesia bt Vietnam 2-0 (21-16, 21-13).

InstaPutra juara pusingan ketiga SepakTakraw League (STL)

ALOR SETAR (23 NOVEMBER 2014): Saingan pusingan ketiga Sepaktakraw League (STL) Zon Utara melabuhkan tirai dengan pasukan InstaPutra muncul juara dengan menewaskan Infratel ‘A’ pada perlawanan akhir yang berlangsung di Stadium Tertutup Sultan Abdul Halim.

InstaPutra, diperkuatkan tekong kebangsaan Fazil Asri, Anuar Samsudin dan Afifuddin Razali mencatat kemenangan 21-13, 21-14 ke atas Infratel yang diwakili Fauzi Ibrahim, Daud Muhamad dan Jamadi Mazlan untuk muncul juara sekaligus membawa pulang hadiah wang tunai RM5,000.

Kemenangan ini juga menyaksikan InstaPutra layak beraksi di pusingan Grand Finals Januari depan, bersama-sama dengan Mazatech ‘A’ dan ATM ‘F’ yang muncul juara pusingan pertama dan kedua di Terengganu (Zon Timur) pada 13 – 16 November lalu.  

Manakala Infratel selaku naib juara berpuas hati dengan hadiah wang tunai RM3,000 dan layak beraksi di pusingan play-off bersama-sama Warisan AZ ‘A’ yang muncul pemenang tempat ketiga selepas menewaskan ATM ‘J’ dan meraih RM1,000.

Pada perlawanan penentuan tempat ketiga yang berlangsung tiga set, Warisan AZ dibarisi dua bekas pemain kebangsaan, Nazirul Ikram dan Zul Effendi Sumari serta Fadzlihaimi Jamaludin tewas 13-21 pada set pertama tetapi bangkit menang dua set berikutnya 21-19 dan 21-12.

Hadiah kepada pemenang disampaikan oleh Presiden Persatuan Sepaktakraw Malaysia (PSM), Dato’ Haji Ahmad Ismail yang hadir menyaksikan perlawanan bersama-sama Naib Presiden III PSM, Dato’ Mohd Yusof Ismail, Pengarah Majlis Sukan Negeri Kedah, Muhammad Mahazi Ibrahim dan Exco Belia dan Sukan Negeri Kedah, Aminudin Omar.  

Terdahulu pada perlawanan separuh akhir, percaturan berani jurulatih InstaPutra, Muhamad Saffar merehatkan tekong berpengalaman, Fazil Asri dan membariskan Faiz Roslan sebagai tekong utama hampir membawa padah apabila InstaPutra mencicirkan beberapa mata mudah sebelum kemasukan Fazil membantu mereka mencatat kemenangan 21-18, 21-12. 

  

Infratel ‘A’ pula menewaskan ATM ‘J’, juga menerusi ‘straight set’ 21-14, 21-15.

STL yang diperkenalkan buat julang kalinya sebagai usaha merevolusikan arena sepak takraw tempatan dilancarkan secara rasminya oleh Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Khairy Jamaluddin pada 7 November lalu. Selepas Kuala Terengganu, dua lagi pusingan berlangsung di Kedah pada 22, 23, 29 dan 30, disusuli Johor dan Melaka sebelum Grand Finals berlangsung di Kuala Lumpur.

Keputusan:

Suku Akhir: InstaPutra mng AMZ Sports ‘A’ 2-0 (21-11, 21-13); Infratel ‘A’ mng PSNP 2-1 (21-14, 17-21, 21-18); Warisan AZ ‘A’ mng ATM ‘G’ 2-1 (21-12, 11-21, 21-18); ATM ‘J’ mng IL-MPSJ 2-1 (15-21, 21-12, 22-20)

Separuh Akhir: InstaPutra mng Warisan AZ ‘A’ 2-0 (21-18, 21-12) & Infratel ‘A’ mng ATM ‘J’ 2-0 (21-14, 21-15) 

Tempat Ke-3 : Warisan AZ ‘A’ mng ATM ‘J’ 2-1 (13-21, 21-19, 21-12)

Akhir : InstaPutra mng Infratel ‘A’ 2-0 (21-13, 21-14)

JADUAL:

Kedah - (Stadium Sultan Abdul Halim, Alor Setar; 22-23 Nov & 29-30 Nov).

Johor - (Stadium Tertutup Pasir Gudang; 13-14 Dis & 20-21 Dis).

Melaka - (Stadium Majlis Perbandaran Melaka, Bukit Seringit; 27-28 Dis, 2014 & 3-4 Jan, 2015).

Grand Final - (Stadium Taman Tasik Titiwangsa, Kuala Lumpur; 10-11 Jan & 17-18 Jan, 2015).

#STL #SepakTakrawLeague #ASV

STL ASPIRES TO INVIGORATE MALAYSIAN SEPAKTAKRAW

PUTRAJAYA (7 NOVEMBER 2014): The stage is set for Malaysian Sepaktakraw players to showcase their skills with the launch of the inaugural SepakTakraw League (STL).

Local amateur Sepaktakraw players are invited to participate in the three-month long league, which is expected to attract a total of 640 players involving 128 regus in four regional tournaments.

STL is scheduled to kick-off with the opening act at the Kuala Terengganu State Indoor Stadium from Nov 13-16, 2014 followed by tournaments in Kedah, Johor and Malacca. The Grand Finals will be held at the Titiwangsa Indoor Stadium in Kuala Lumpur over two weekends on Jan 10-11 and Jan 17-18, 2015.

STL is a partnership between Persatuan Sepaktakraw Malaysia (PSM) and Asia Sports Ventures, the arm Astro responsible for managing, developing and promoting Sepaktakraw globally.

STL aspires to be the platform to invigorate the quality of play in the country’s Sepaktakraw to reignite Malaysia’s love for the sport and to re-establish Sepaktakraw as a premier sports.

PSM and Asia Sports Ventures are confident STL will be a platform for new talent to emerge with the best players earmarked for higher level of competition and as the foundation for the domestic SepakTakraw League.

STL was officially launched today by Youth and Sports Minister, Khairy Jamaluddin.

Astro Chief Operating Officer, Henry Tan, Persatuan Sepaktakraw Malaysia President Dato’ Haji Ahmad Ismail and Asia Sports Ventures Chief Operating Officer, Venu Ramadass were also present at the launch.

The introduction of the STL, said Khairy, will serve as a catalyst to improve the standing of Malaysian Sepaktakraw in the arena.

“I sincerely hope with the introduction of STL, we are able to produce a wider pool of talented players at the base and be a force to be reckoned with once again.  It’s a long and winding road but with hard work and proper development programmes we can achieve our targets,” said Khairy.

“A concerted national effort to transform Malaysia into a sporting nation driven by a RM103 million budget announced by Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Najib Tun Razak recently takes centre stage in 2015,” he said, stressing that the quality of high performance areas for football, badminton, cycling, Sepaktakraw, aquatics and athletics will be improved.

 The initiative, spearheaded by the Sports Ministry, will focus on the implementation of four key measures that would see rise in all areas from grassroots programmes aimed at the masses through high performance programmes.

PSM president, Dato’ Haji Ahmad Ismail, believes this investment by the Sports Ministry would allow their grassroots programmes to flourish.

“We have always been thankful for all the assistance the government has provided to Sepaktakraw and this development will complement our existing programmes. It is good to have more help to develop quality players for the future. We welcome ASV and Astro to work with us to develop Sepaktakraw and to take it to a new level” added Dato’ Ahmad Ismail.

He revealed that PSM’s programme will be focused on developing a team capable of winning gold at the 2017 SEA Games and 2018 Asian Games.

Astro Chief Operating Officer Henry Tan said: “Astro is committed to the development and promotion of local sports. We put Sepaktakraw in high regards as it is the oldest sports in this region and has all the attributes to become a truly international sport. We are confident STL will invigorate Sepaktakraw in Malaysia and that we can take this success internationally.”

Broadcast of STL on Astro:

SepakTakraw League will be broadcast live on Astro SuperSport 2 (HD), Astro Arena and RTM.

For more information on STL, please visit:

•      Official Website: www.stl.my•      Facebook: facebook.com/SepakTakrawLeague
•      Twitter: twitter.com/SepakTakrawLeague
•      Youtube: youtube.com/SepaktakrawLeague

SCHEDULE:

Terengganu Leg - (Stadium Negeri Kuala Terengganu, Nov 13-16).

Kedah Leg - (Stadium Sultan Abdul Halim, Alor Setar; Nov 22-23 & Nov 29-30).

Johor Leg - (Pasir Gudang Indoor Stadium; Dec 13-14 & Dec 20-21).

Malacca Leg - (Stadium Majlis Perbandaran Melaka, Bukit Seringit; Dec 27-28, 2014 & Jan 3-4, 2015).

Grand Final - (Stadium Taman Tasik Titiwangsa, Kuala Lumpur; Jan 10-11 & Jan 17-18, 2015).

#STL #ASV #Malaysia #SepakTakraw

MALAYSIA FALL AT THE LAST

NAY PYI TAW (2 NOVEMBER 2014): Landing their first ISTAF SuperSeries title is proving to be as slippery as catching an eel in water for Malaysia as they lost 20-22, 21-18,-21-23 to Thailand after coming within a point of winning ISTAF SuperSeries MYANMAR 2014/14.

The deciding set saw the national team leading 20-18 and poised on the verge of a historic win at the Wunna Theikdi Indoor Stadium here before Thai striker Thawisak Thongsai struck twice to force deuce. With the first team going two points clear emerging winner, Thailand hit the first blow  before Malaysia came back with a typical lightning bolt from Khairol Zaman Hamir Akhbar.

Tekong Mohd Syahir Mohd Rosdi, who had been the driving force behind his teammates with his sizzling serves, sent the ball into the net at the worst time possible to give Thailand the advantage. Thawisak, who converted all 27 of his spikes, launched his last of the match and Malaysia once again found themselves playing bridesmaid to the top seeds for the fourth consecutive ISTAF SuperSeries finals.

“This was sepaktakraw played at its highest level, and I’m so proud of my boys for playing their part,” said coach Najib Iman, who was inconsolable after the match. “A lack of fitness and the pressure to win may have contributed to our loss, but in the end we just ran out of luck.”

The national team were the dominating force in the match, with Syahir racking up eight aces, captain Syazreenqamar Salehan steadying the boat with his saves and Khairol Zaman unstoppable in attack and defence. They were ahead for the most part and forced the Thais to come from behind in all three sets.

The Thais, who played all five of their players, were largely hampered by the ineffectiveness of both their tekong, Nattapon Kraiwan and the baby-faced Rattadech Noijaroen.  And although they paled in comparison with the Malaysians, the defending champions held their nerve under pressure and hammered home the fact that they are the world’s best sepaktakraw team.

In the third-fourth placing match, hosts Myanmar beat Singapore 21-18, 21-13.

The national women’s team avoided finishing in last place when they beat Japan 21-17, 21-16. The largely inexperienced side closed fifth in the tournament for their worst ever ISTAF SuperSeries showing.

Thailand, who has won every single ISTAF SuperSeries title since the first tournament commenced in 2011, showed no sign of giving up their dominance of the game by defeating Vietnam 21-18, 21-13 in the finals.

Myanmar beat Indonesia 21-19, 22-24, 21-16 in a see-saw match to finish third.

ISTAF SuperSeries MYANMAR 2014/15 kicked-off the 2014/15 season. Three other legs are scheduled to be played in South Korea, Indonesia and the Philippines. 

The tournament is jointly organised by the International Sepaktakraw Federation (ISTAF) and Asia Sports Ventures (ASV), ISTAF’s exclusive global commercial and developmental partner. It is being held with the support of host partners the Myanmar Ministry of Sports and the Myanmar Sepaktakraw Federation (MSTAF).

ISTAF SuperSeries MYANMAR 2014/15 was televised on ASTRO Arena, ASTRO SuperSports, ASTRO SuperSports HD and RTM. A total of 12 hours of live coverage was aired during the last three days of the tournament.

The tournament was also televised to over 70 countries. For the very first time, fans could also catch all four days of tournament action live on www.sepaktakraw.org.

The ISTAF SuperSeries is the first and only elite platform for regular sepaktakraw competition at the highest level. Alongside the ISTAF World Cup, the internationally-recognised ISTAF SuperSeries is the only sepaktakraw tournament acknowledged by ISTAF and plays a key role in deciding the official ISTAF World Rankings.

FINAL RESULTS (MEN)

Finals: Thailand bt Malaysia 2-1 (20-22, 21-18, 21-23)

3^rd -4^th Placing: Myanmar bt Singapore 2-0 (21-18, 21-13)

FINAL RESULTS (WOMEN)

Finals: Thailand bt Vietnam 2-0 (21-18, 21-13)

3^rd -4^th Placing: Myanmar bt Indonesia 2-1 (21-19, 22-24, 21-16)

#ISTAF #ASV #Malaysia #ISSMyanmar