Some 30 Lao national sepak takraw players, 18 men and 12 women, left Savannakhet province yesterday to compete in the 24th King's Cup Sepak Takraw World Championships 2009 in Bangkok, Thailand, from July 2-7.
The players, accompanied by their coaches, travelled by bus across the second Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge into Mukdahan province in Thailand on their way to Bangkok yesterday morning.
Secretary of the Lao National Sepak Takraw Federation, Mr Somsavath Phongsa, said the tournament will provide the squad with an opportunity to test their teamwork skills, which coaches want them to focus on in the lead-up to the SEA Games later this year.
“What we hope to achieve from this tournament is to see the weaknesses of our national players to be addressed before the 25th SEA Games in December. The squad has had limited match play so the tournament will provide a valuable experience in their training,” Mr Somsavath said.
Last month, the federation invited female sepak takraw players from Mahasarakarm province, Thailand , to compete in a friendly event in Savannakhet province. Laos won the event by two matches to one.
“Such tournaments don't provide adequate experience for our squad because the Mahasarakarm team were not strong. This time we hope to get more experience from competing against teams from around the world in the King's Cup,” he said.
More than 40 sepak takraw players, 21 men and 21 women, have been training at the Savannakhet Sepak Takraw Centre since April in preparation for the SEA Games.
At last year's King's Cup in Bangkok , Laos won three medals - one gold and two bronze.
By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
Vientianetimes
