Nagpur: The Second Capital of the state, is hosting the 33rd Senior National Sepak Takraw Championship (Men & Women) from April 1 to 5, 2023, at the Mankapur Indoor Stadium, Divisional Sports Complex. The event will be inaugurated by Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, on April 1 at 11 am.
In both the men’s and women’s categories, 30 units (29 states and 2 forces) will be participating, with around 900 players, 50 referees and technical officials, 50 coaches and managers, and 40 executive members of the Federation of India.
Sepak Takraw is gaining popularity in India as it is a part of the School Games Federation of India, Maharashtra Olympic Association, All India Inter University, All India Police Cluster, etc. This year, RTM Nagpur University (Men) bagged the third position in the All India Sepak Takraw Championship.
Sepak Takraw is a team sport played with a ball made of synthetic plastic between two teams of two to four players on a court resembling a badminton court. It is a Malaysian game that is a combination of football, volleyball, and badminton. This game was incorporated in India in 1982 at Karnal Singh Stadium, New Delhi, during the 9th Asian Games, and the demonstration was given in the presence of the then Prime Minister, late. Smt Indira Gandhi. Sepak Takraw has been a sport in the Asian Games since 1990, and India has been actively participating in many prestigious international tournaments. India received the third position in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta. Team India also bagged the first position in the Kings Cup Sepak Takraw World Championship 2022 at Bangkok, Thailand.