NOVEMBER 15, 20 DAILY PAGE 11 ASIAD & EQUESTRIAN Drums set to beat for ‘elastic’ athletes THAILAND AND MALAYSIA FACING STIFF COMPETITION FOR ‘FOOT ’ SUPREMACY

GUANGZHOU — Both Thai- fi t mentally,” said Suebsak, who has land and Malaysia claim to have represented Th ailand for 15 years originated sepak takraw, and their and is competing at his fourth rivalry is fi erce in the highly skilled . game. Th e sport, unique to the Asian Whoever Games, should spark plenty of emerges victorious interest in with its at the Asian Games dazzling display of acrobatic twists, will claim bragging turns and body swerves. rights for the next Even admirers of overhead kick- SEPAK TAKRAW four years, meaning ing would be envious of the elas- winning here is a ticity and agility of sepak takraw high priority for the neighboring athletes, who basically play foot countries. volleyball. The event gets underway on Few of the locals in China will Monday with Myanmar and Indo- have seen anything like it, and nesia also in the hunt, along with the novelty is expected to attract the Republic of Korea. crowds to the Haizhou Sports Th e ROK has been pinpointed Center. by Thailand manager Thavat Some diehard fans have even Kumutpongpanich as a country made the trek from Southeast that has made progress since the Asia. last games in four years Sepak takraw made its debut at ago. the in , “Malaysia is no longer our main where Malaysia won two gold rivals, having lost to Th ailand in medals. recent years with sub-standard The sport is played on a court performances,” he told Th ai media with a hand-woven ball (takraw) ahead of the games. by teams made up of two or three “We cannot underestimate people on each side. them,” he added when asked about Points are scored by hitting the Koreans. the ball above the net and into “We are well-prepared for the the court as the opposing players Asian Games after months of attempt to “block”. intensive training and we will Kicks, oft en performed mid-air try to win at least three gold at shoulder height, form the basis medals.” of the game. No hands are allowed Th e Th ais are defending men’s but feet, legs, shoulders and head champions and boast Suebsak can be used to keep the ball in Phunsueb among their ranks — play. arguably the fi nest male server in Players routinely spike the ball, the sport’s history and a household turning acrobatic somersault name at home. movements or bicycle kicks in MANAN VATSYAYANA / AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE “I am not worried about my mid-air to keep the ball in play. Thai tekong player Suebsak Phunsueb passes the ball during the men’s Regu preliminary sepak takraw physical fi tness but I must be fully AGENCE FRANCEPRESSE match at the 15th Asian Games in Doha in 2006. Korean wins gold for uncle who died in Doha

GUANGZHOU — Th e Republic and Hwang Young-shik on the For Choi, Sunday’s victory was of Korea’s Kim Kyun-sub realized podium. his third straight gold in team dres- his dream on Sunday of winning His uncle, Kim Hyung-chil, sage, joining another rider from the an Asian Games gold to honor his 47, died on a rain-sodden course ROK, Suh Jung-kyun as the only uncle who was killed at the last in Qatar four years ago when his athlete to win the same equestrian Asiad in Doha when his horse horse hit a fence, stumbled and event three times in a row. threw and crushed him. threw him to the ground dur- It was also his fi ft h Asian Games Kim was part of the ROK team ing the individual cross country gold. that claimed the equestrian team event. “Chinese riders are strong and dressage title ahead of China and Th e mare, Bundaberg Black, fell rode well, but I trust my riders Malaysia. on him and Kim was crushed. and horses,” said ROK coach Shin “I hoped I could win gold in Kim, who left a wife and two Chang-moo. dressage to honor my uncle. I children, died from multiple skull “Th at’s why I thought we could NICOLAS ASFOURI / AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE trembled before I came into the fractures and severe bleeding while gain the gold medal. It lays a good Kim Kyun-sub of the Republic of Korea competes during the equestrian arena,” said Kim, who joined the horse broke its hind legs and foundation for further success.” dressage team competition at the equestrian venue on Sunday. Choi Jun-sang, Kim Dong-seon had to be put down. AGENCE FRANCEPRESSE