KUALA LUMPUR – The national sepak takraw squad remains undeterred by the conflict engulfing their nemesis, Thailand, ahead of the upcoming ISTAF World Cup Championship in Kuala Lumpur this May.
Malaysian team captain Farhan Adam said that, despite Thailand’s drastic decision to remove their experienced coach, Kamol Tankimhong, the War Elephant squad is not in a weak state.
Earlier this month, the Thailand Sepak Takraw Association sacked the 70-year-old coach after discovering that he and several other coaches had misappropriated allowances meant for Thai sepak takraw players.
His replacement, Suphot Tumpracha, has taken over the position and has already named several players who are still viewed as threats to Malaysia.
“For us, the current situation of the Thai team does not provide us with any advantage, despite their internal challenges. We are solely focused on our training sessions.
“Thailand has indeed finalised their player roster, and although we no longer see venomous spikers like Pornchai (Kaokew) and Pattarapong (Yupade) who have retired, they still possess formidable players. Most of them are athletes who competed in the Hangzhou Asian Games last year.
“Nevertheless, we will be ready if we face them, as myself and my teammates are eager to compete against them again,” Farhan told Scoop.
Additionally, Farhan acknowledged the contributions of two former Thai players, Poonsak Permsap and Seksan Tubtong, who are serving as consultants to the national coaching staff, noting that their presence has significantly improved their performance on the court.
“They have been with us since last month, and I can say that both former players have provided invaluable guidance, strengthening our fundamental techniques and refining our playing style,” he added.
So far, 21 countries, including Malaysia and Thailand, have confirmed their participation in the ISTAF World Cup, which will be held at Titiwangsa Stadium in Kuala Lumpur. — March 22, 2024