The national sepak takraw team in action during the quarter-final of the team event at the 31st King’s Cup Sepak Takraw World Championship 2016 in Bangkok yesterday. Picture: Courtesy of Md Isa Hj Marsidi
THE national sepak takraw team failed to a win medal at the 31st King’s Cup Sepak Takraw World Championship 2016 in Bangkok after losing 2-0 to the Philippines in the quarter-final of the team event in the Premier Division.
The team event was their only chance for silverware this year after crashing out in the regu and doubles events but the Philippines dashed Brunei’s hope by winning two quick straight sets — first set 2-1 (21-14, 12-21, 16-21), second set 2-0 (17-21,14-21) — at the Fashion Island Mall in Bangkok yesterday.
Brunei started the day brightly in the team event with a 2-1 win over Singapore earlier to set up the quarter-final match with the Philippines. Team manager Md Isa Hj Marsidi was disappointed with the result and promised that the team will work hard and bounce back from the setback.
“The team event was our only hope of getting a medal but we only managed to reach the quarter-finals…it is very disappointing,” said Md Isa in an interview with The Brunei Times yesterday. “The players gave their all and tried their best throughout the tournament…the Philippines are stronger this year…they even defeated Thailand in the double event…so it wasn’t at all an easy match for us.” “The players will learn a lot from this defeat and I am very sure that we will come back stronger next year and work even harder.”
“This year we managed to send a number of younger players such as Abdul Wasi Hj Nordin, Abdul Muiz Hj Nordin and Md Alauden Mohammad Ali…playing against experienced sides in this tournament will help them develop as players and a team…it was definitely a very good outing for them,” he added.
Brunei kicked off their campaign in the regu event of the Premier Division with a 2-0 (21-8, 21-12) defeat to South Korea on Monday. They lost 2-1 (19-21, 21-18, 21-13) to the Philippines on the following day to see the team bowed out of the event. The country started the doubles event on the same day, where they began with a 2-0 (21-17, 21-15) defeat at the hands of Laos.
They then lost 2-0 (21-10, 21-11) to Myanmar in their first match on Wednesday before crashing out of the event following a 2-1 (21-18, 21-12, 22-20) defeat to Japan.
Brunei won two bronze in the previous edition of the tournament held in May last year.
