KUALA LUMPUR – Pakistan has withdrawn from the 2025 Asian Sepak Takraw Cup, citing security concerns amid rising tensions with neighbouring India.
The tournament is set to begin tomorrow at Titiwangsa Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.
Asian Sepak Takraw Federation (Astaf) president Datuk Abdul Halim Kader confirmed the last-minute decision, saying the Pakistan Sepak Takraw Federation (PSF) secretary-general Noushad Ahmed Khan had officially informed the tournament’s Joint Organising Committee yesterday.
“Noushad informed me and Datuk Mohd Sumali Reduan, who is co-chair of the committee and president of the Malaysian Sepak Takraw Association (PSM), that the withdrawal was also prompted by the closure of Islamabad International Airport due to fears of Indian military strikes,” Abdul Halim said in a statement today.
Six Pakistani players—Sarfaraz Rehman, Muhammad Khalid, Muhammad Shahroze Alvi, Muhammad Shahid, Aman Kumar Oad, and Aqeel Ahmed—along with team manager Akhtar Ali and coach Dileep Kumar Oad, had been scheduled to depart for Kuala Lumpur last night.
Abdul Halim said the organisers accepted Pakistan’s withdrawal on the grounds of force majeure, despite their participation having been confirmed at the official draw ceremony on April 21 at the World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur.
Under tournament regulations, any team withdrawing after the draw is deemed to have forfeited all matches by default. As such, all teams scheduled to face Pakistan will be awarded 2-0 walkover wins (15-0, 15-0) in both the quadrant and regu events.
Pakistan had been drawn in Group A of the quadrant competition alongside Vietnam, Singapore, and South Korea, while in the regu category, they were grouped with Vietnam, China, and Japan in Group C.
“However, Noushad, who is also an Astaf vice-president, will still attend the Asia Cup as a member of the appeals jury, along with female referee Tahira Yasmeen, as both happened to be travelling from China after attending a sports course,” Abdul Halim added. — May 9, 2025