The Indian team secured the bronze medal at the prestigious King's Cup Sepak Takraw Championship held in Thailand. In the men's quad tournament, the Indian squad reached the semi-finals but was defeated by the host nation, Thailand, in a three-set match. Nevertheless, reaching the final four guaranteed India a bronze award.
This result is significant for the Indian team ahead of the 2026 Asian Games. India has recently achieved several notable successes internationally in Sepak Takraw, and the King's Cup medal adds to this list.
In the semi-final, the Indian team showed a strong start, winning the first set 15-9. Despite the pressure on the hosts, Indian players could not maintain this advantage. Thailand changed its tactics in the second set and won 15-9, leveling the score. The decisive set also went to the hosts, with the same margin. Consequently, India dropped out of the race for the final, losing the matches with scores of 15-9, 9-15, and 9-15. After receiving the medal, a video of the Indian athletes celebrating went viral on social media.
Sepak Takraw is less popular in India than cricket, football, or badminton, but it has a larger fan base in Southeast Asia. Thailand and Malaysia are considered traditional strongholds in this sport. Sepak Takraw is a unique combination of volleyball and football. Athletes use their feet, heads, and knees to send the ball over the net; the use of hands is prohibited. Due to the high speed and aerial attacks, the game is very exciting. In the regulation format, there are three players on one team on the court, whereas the quad involves four players.
The King's Cup is one of the major international tournaments in this sport. It was established in Bangkok in 1985. Malaysia won the first championship, and they repeated the victory in 1988. Following this, Thailand established itself as a dominant force in the competitions. The presence of strong teams from around the world ensures a high level of competition for the athletes.
This year, the Indian team also won another major trophy. In May, at the Asian Sepak Takraw Championship in Nagoya, Japan, the Indian squad won the gold medal in the men's quad final, defeating the host nation of Japan with scores of 15-10, 12-15, 15-12. India's participation in that tournament was special. After victories over Malaysia and South Korea in Group B, the team secured a confident two-set victory over a strong Thailand in the semi-finals.
