ISTAF SuperSeries
The ISTAF SuperSeries is an international sepaktakraw competition organized by the International Sepaktakraw Federation (ISTAF). Alongside the ISTAF World Cup, the ISTAF SuperSeries brings together the best sepaktakraw players annually to showcase the sport to the international audience.[1] As the only elite international sepaktakraw tournaments recognized by ISTAF, both tournaments lend a higher weightage to the official ISTAF World Rankings.
The ISTAF SuperSeries is held in a grand prix format whereby national teams compete in a series of tournaments during a season. The first season was held between September 2011 to July 2012 and 4 ISTAF SuperSeries was organized during that debut season. The first series for the second season is slated to be held in New Delhi, India from 29 August to 1 September 2013.[2] This was followed by the ISTAF SuperSeries Thailand 2013 held in Bangkok and ISTAF SuperSeries Malaysia 2013 in Sabah before culminating in the ISTAF SuperSeries 2013/14 Finals held at the Titiwangsa Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.
The third season of the ISTAF SuperSeries tournaments unveiled 8 elite Men's teams and top 6 Women's teams (based on ISTAF World Rankings) who will compete in a series of 4 tournaments. This season of competitive Sepaktakraw kick started with Myanmar joining in as a new host. ISTAF SuperSeries Myanmar 2014/15 was continued on by ISTAF SuperSeries Malaysia 2014/15 Melaka[3] which saw an epic battle between powerhouses, Thailand and Malaysia. Following that, the ISTAF SuperSeries 2014/15 season welcomed in Korea as yet another new addition to the list of host countries - ISTAF SuperSeries Korea 2014/15 Gunsan.
ISTAF SuperSeries Summary
| Season | Number of SuperSeries | ISTAF SuperSeries Overall (Men) | ISTAF SuperSeries Overall (Women) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold (Men) |
Silver (Men) |
Bronze (Men) |
Gold (Women) |
Silver (Women) |
Bronze (Women) | ||
| 2011–12 | 4 |  Thailand |  Malaysia |  South Korea | Thailand |  Vietnam | Malaysia |
| 2013–14 | 4 | Thailand | Malaysia |  Japan | Thailand | Vietnam | Malaysia |
| 2014–15 | 4 | Thailand | Malaysia |  Singapore  Myanmar South Korea | Thailand | Vietnam | Malaysia |
ISTAF SuperSeries Format
The ISTAF SuperSeries features the ‘Regu’ match format, where each team is represented by three (3) players on court, with two (2) additional substitutes. Traditionally, the three players on the court are divided into three specialist positions; the ‘tekong’ who serves the ball; the ‘feeder’ who sets the ball up and facilitates the attack, and; the ‘killer’ or striker, who spikes the ball set by the feeder.
Matches are played using a best of three (3) format, where teams compete to win two (2) sets. Once one team wins two (2) sets, the remaining sets (if any) are discarded. E.g., if Team A wins the first two (2) sets, it wins the match, and the remaining one (1) set is not played.
Teams were awarded points based on the number of sets they won, as opposed to the traditional group scoring based on wins and losses. This system was devised to bolster competitive spirit, rewarding teams for every set they won, regardless of whether they won the match. E.g., if Team A defeats Team B by a set score of two to one (2 – 1), a traditional scoring system would award three (3) points to Team A, and zero (0) points to Team B. The set scoring system awards two (2) points to Team A, and one (1) point to Team B, narrowing the points difference between teams for hard fought matches.
Set Format[4]
- Each set is won by the side which scores twenty-one (21) points with a minimum lead of two (2) points.
- In the event of a twenty to twenty tie (20-20), the set shall be won by the side which gets a lead of two (2) points, or when a side reaches twenty-five (25) points (whichever occurs first).
- When the score is tied at 20-20, the Match Referee will announce "setting up to 25 points".
- During the third set, the teams shall change sides when one Regu reaches 11 points.
ISTAF Medal Tally
| Teams | Gold (Men) |
Silver (Men) |
Bronze (Men) |
Total (Men) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand | 3 (2011/2012) (2013/2014) (2014/2015) | - | - | 3 |
| Malaysia | - | 3 (2011/2012) (2013/2014) (2014/2015) | - | 3 |
| South Korea | - | - | 2 (2011/2012) (2014/2015) | 2 |
| Japan | - | - | 1 (2013/2014) | 1 |
| Singapore | - | - | 1 (2014/2015) | 1 |
| Myanmar | - | - | 1 (2014/2015) | 1 |
| Teams | Gold (Women) |
Silver (Women) |
Bronze (Women) |
Total (Women) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand | 3 (2011/2012) (2013/2014) (2014/2015) | - | - | 3 |
| Vietnam | - | 3 (2011/2012) (2013/2014) (2014/15) | - | 3 |
| Malaysia | - | - | 3 (2011/2012) (2013/2014) (2014/15) | 3 |
Overall ranking results for ISTAF SuperSeries 2011/12 season [5]
Overall ranking results for ISTAF SuperSeries 2013/14 season [6] [7]
Overall ranking results for ISTAF SuperSeries 2014/15 season.
References
- "Intentions to expand the ISTAF SuperSeries in Season Two". Sports Business Insider. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- "SEPAK TAKRAW: India to host first leg". The New Straits Times. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
- http://www.sportbusiness.com/sepaktakraw-istaf-superseries-returns-capital-city-malaysia-0
- http://www.sepaktakraw.org/tournament-format/
- http://www.sepaktakraw.org/rankings-thailand-win-first-mens-and-womens-competitions/
- http://www.sepaktakraw.org/sepaktakdrew-mens-rankings-thailand-edge-malaysia-japan-win-battle-for-third/
- http://www.sepaktakraw.org/sepaktakdrew-womens-rankings-malaysia-so-close-to-stealing-silver/
External links
- Sepaktakraw featured in Sport Business International magazine issue no. 205 "The Ultra Fast Game You Need to See to Believe"