First International Sepaktakraw Federation World Cup-Sri Lanka faces Germany today

Rangi Akbar reporting from Kuala Lumpur

Sri Lanka faces tough opponents in Germany today (22 July) in their first game of the First International Sepaktakraw Federation (ISTF) World Cup at the Titiwangsa Stadium.

“It is going to be a tough game but the team is ready to face them,” said Coach cum Manager Nizam Hajireen yesterday. The team arrived in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia on Monday and since then have had no chance to practice. “Nevertheless we are ready to face the German challenge,” said Hajireen.

All 24 teams (men’s and women’s) have arrived for the four day contest and are keen as mustard to show off their prowess. India too has sent a team for the competition and it is very keen to help Sri Lanka to promote the game.

Hajireen, a double international in rugby and football who has even captained the Police rugby team and won laurels as a reliable place kicker, said that the colour of the court had turned red from green. “The usual practice is to play on a green court but this time the organisers of this world event have turned the court into red,” he observed.

The rest of the team is full of confidence and are waiting to give Germany a hard time in today’s encounter which will be played at 5 p.m. Malaysian time. Compared with other teams the Sri Lanka team looks mature, but they too have a lot of experienced players.

Hajireen pointed out that a Swiss player had been playing the game for the past 17 years. “You have to have some experienced players in the game in order to guide the youngsters,” he observed. The opening ceremony took place yesterday at the Titiwangsa Stadium yesterday followed by a grand dinner for all participants and officials. Malaysia, the host nation, is leaving no stone unturned to make this event a grand success.

According to spectators a grand match is awaited when Malaysia takes on Thailand, which is billed the ‘Match of the First ISTAF World Cup’.