The Korean sepak takraw men's and women's national teams departed for Thailand through Incheon International Airport on the 4th to participate in the 2025 Sepak Takraw World Championship.
Hosted by the International Sepak Takraw Federation (ISTAF), the event will take place from the 22nd to the 27th at the Hatyai Convention Center in Bangkok, Thailand.
More than 500 participants from 30 countries worldwide will take part.
The national teams will compete in a total of five events, including men's and women's quad and team regu, aiming to win more than four medals.
Korea has proven its international competitiveness through consecutive championships in the men's quad (2022, 2023), women's regu victory, and multiple medals.
After arriving in Bangkok, the national teams plan to participate in a training camp with local elite teams for about two weeks to improve their competitive readiness.
This national team consists of veterans like Sun Woo-young (Goyang City Hall), Shim Jae-cheol (Busan Environmental Corporation) and newcomers like Kim Young-cheol (Cheongju City Hall), Jo Soo-bin (Incheon Sports Council), and Lim Do-yeon (Gangwon Provincial Sports Council), making it a test stage for generational change.
Kim Jong-heun, the men's national team coach, noted, "The national team, which has shown clear growth since the last Asian Cup, is expected to achieve good results in this tournament."
The Korea Sepak Takraw Association plans to use this tournament as a precursor to next year’s Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
Additionally, it aims to utilize this opportunity to expand international sports diplomacy.
Kim Young-jin, president of the Korea Sepak Takraw Association, said, "It will serve as a means to expand international sports exchanges beyond mere achievement."
[Photo] Provided by the association.
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