39th King's Cup Sepak Takraw Draws 19 Nations Worldwide
Nineteen nations will compete in the 39th King's Cup Sepak Takraw Championship, one of the sport's most prestigious tournaments, running August 4-11 at Fashion Island Shopping Centre in Thailand with nearly 700 athletes across five competit
The 39th King's Cup Sepak Takraw Championship will welcome athletes from 19 countries worldwide to compete in one of the sport's oldest and most prestigious tournaments. On July 31 at the Grand Forvung Hotel, Thana Chaiyaprasit, president of the Thai Sepak Takraw Association, and Datuk Abdul Halim Kader, secretary-general of the International Sepak Takraw Federation (ISTAF), held a press conference announcing the world championship for the royal "King's Cup" trophy running from August 4-11 at Fashion Island Shopping Centre. Thana remarked that the King's Cup is one of the most honored and historically significant events in sepak takraw, having served over four decades not just as a competition but as a platform unifying the global sepak takraw community. He stressed that Thailand has made comprehensive preparations covering competition management, venue facilities, athlete amenities, transportation systems, and opening and closing ceremonies, committing to making this tournament successful and memorable for all 19 participating nations. Datuk Abdul Halim Kader stated that the King's Cup remains one of the most valued and prestigious competitions in international sepak takraw, serving as an important platform that brings together world-class athletes and reflecting confidence in Thailand's experience and capability in hosting world-level sporting events. He noted that the King's Cup has long been recognized as a leading competition in the international sepak takraw calendar, functioning as both a showcase for elite athletes and a crucial mechanism for advancing the sport internationally. The ISTAF has introduced several rule and format improvements to enhance modernity, increase competitive intensity, create greater excitement for spectators, and expand the sport's appeal to younger audiences worldwide. The 39th King's Cup features five competition categories: men's singles, mixed doubles, women's pairs, mixed four-person teams, and men's and women's hoop sepak takraw, with nearly 700 athletes from 19 countries participating in competitions held August 4-11 at Fashion Island Shopping Centre.
