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A different ball game altogether
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Sepak-Takraw seems like a football being played in a shuttle badminton court with volleyball rules, says A. Ramya.
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IT'S ALTOGETHER a different ball game. The name sounds as if it has something to do with swords like in the game of pecking. But, it, certainly, is not. The latest fad among the guys and gals of Vijayawada is Sepak-Takraw.
This ninth century game, called with different names in the South East Asian nations, is slowly, yet steadily, picking up. The five-member team on either side of the court is called Regu.
It is a peculiar game that has all the trappings of a football, shuttle badminton and volleyball.
But girls and boys are trying their legs, literally, at the ball at Satyanarayanapuram Railway Grounds regularly.
Brimming with confidence, girls playing Sepak-Takraw say that their hard work is sure to take them to the victory stand in the coming inter-district sports meet. When the first saw the game, they were amused. But, they had to suppress their urge to try the game. They felt it could be difficult to play too.
Of course, drawing inspiration from their coach -- Robert Kennedy, the SC Railway's goal-keeper in football player, the boys and girls made their beginning, in a very humble way though.
Panduranga Rao, the Krishna District Sepak-Takraw Association secretary, has been a great source of encouragement, while Kareem Basha of Railways has lent his shoulder to the up-and-coming players.
Joy of the girls knew no bounds when they bagged the second place in the inter-district Sepak-Takraw Tournament held at Guntur. And, now it is time for them -- Mubeena Sultan, Madhavi Latha and Sai Praveena -- to brace themselves up for grabbing the top honours in the `battle field'.
The Sepak Takraw ball has a very strange look. It has 12 holes and 21 intersections. It should weigh 170 grams at the beginning and 180 grams at the end, when it is played by men. And, the weights should be 150 and 160 grams respectively in the case of women.
As the ball spins its magic, for those who see the game for the first time, it gives a feeling as if a football is being played in a shuttle badminton court with volleyball rules.
With the increasing patronage from viewers, the enthusiasm among spectators is getting revved up.
Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation Stadium and Satyanarayanapuram Railways Grounds are now the epi-centres for this activity where the Sepak Takraw ball flies high into the air before reaching the rival's court with just one kick.
Madhavi and Mubeena feel that support from parents gives them the necessary boost.
Sai Praveena, Sairam, Nagarjuna Rao, Vamsi Krishna and Azeez -- all the players who derive some kind of kick by kicking the ball, have no qualms in admitting that the competition is tough.
But, they don't want to give up their efforts till they make it to the brim at national level.
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Metro Plus
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