The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
AS part of the efforts to promote the sport, the Philippines will stage the first-ever Under-19 Asian Sepak Takraw Championship on Nov. 18 -25 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Pilipinas Sepak Takraw president Karen Tanchanco-Caballero said more than 600 rising stars from 12 to 16 nations will compete in the week-long meet in the regu, quad and mixed quadrant categories.
“We are very honored to host this event. This is big and special because we take so much pride in hosting,” said Tanchanco-Caballero during the event launch at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
Also in attendance were Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio and commissioner Walter Torres, along with Asian Sepak Takraw Federation deputy secretary general Muhammad Fariq.
“I like this sport. It’s a very colorful and very exciting sport. I think it’s really high time to promote this sport in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia. During the Sports Minister’s Forum and Convention Summit in Vietnam last October we also discussed the possibility of really developing sepak takraw as an ASEAN sport,” said Gregorio
“If there is an opportunity to showcase sepak takraw in the Philippines by hosting this sport here in the Philippines, then let’s do it,” Gregorio added.
Fariq emphasized that the championship goes beyond medals and match results, saying it is not merely a stage for athletes to outplay or overpower their rivals.
“This is a start for the Asian Sepak Takraw Federation, the International Sepak Takraw Federation, for us to elevate the youth who will be the leaders of sepak takraw and those champions of their country,” said Fariq
The PSC has thrown its full backing behind the country’s recent run as a global host, supporting the successful staging of the FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup and the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship last year, as well as the WTA 125 Philippine Women’s Open.