Kuala Lumpur, May 18: The Indian men’s team has secured a spot in the quarterfinals of the ‘Sepak Takraw World Cup 2026’ despite a loss to host Malaysia in their Group C match on Sunday.
In the ongoing World Cup in Malaysia’s capital, the Asian champions entered the final league match after victories against South Korea and Singapore. Malaysia, having started the tournament with a win over Singapore, faced a setback against South Korea in their previous match. However, the host team made a strong comeback, defeating India 2-1 in a must-win match, thereby ensuring their place in the final eight.
The Indian squad included Ram Kumar Sharma, Unam Akash, Bobby Kumar, and Sorokhaibam Malemangba Singh. The Malaysian team featured Muhammad Afifuddin Muhammad Rajali, Muhammad Shahlril Aiman Halim, Amirul Jazwan Amir, and Aidil Aiman Ajwawi.
Despite receiving overwhelming support from the crowd at Stadium Titiwangsa, the Indian team started strong, winning the first set against Malaysia. They capitalized on a service error by Aidil, disrupting the Malaysian team’s rhythm, and clinched the first set 15-13.
The second set showcased a fierce contest, with both teams pushing each other to the limit. Ultimately, Malaysia triumphed 17-15, forcing the match into a decisive final set. The host team dominated this set, winning 15-10 and securing the match. In another Group C match, South Korea defeated Singapore 2-0.
All three teams—Malaysia, India, and South Korea—finished with two wins each, but India and Malaysia advanced to the quarterfinals based on superior game points. Overall, India emerged as the group winner, while Malaysia took the runner-up position, having defeated South Korea 2-1 and Singapore 2-0.
Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
Leave a Comment