Sepak Takraw was introduced to the Asian Games in 1990 and the Thai teams have done very well, defeating arch-rivals Malaysia in 1990 and at the 1998 Asian Games the Thai squad won five of the six gold medals contested.

The Thai team repeated the feat at the last Asian Games in South Korea.

With the next Asiad around the corner, the Thai team, which is mostly made up of veterans, have been training intensively for

the past four months in Suphan-buri.

"Our players have a short time to prepare for the Games as they also play for different clubs in the domestic leagues all year, but I think it will not be a problem," said Tawat Kumutpongpanich, the team manager.

The Takraw Association of Thailand (Tat) have asked three veterans who were a main force when the team won gold medals at previous Asiads to serve the country again as coaches, while the other half of the team are also coaches.

Thailand will field a 15-member squad in both the men's and women's team, regu and doubles events in Doha. The Tat anticipate the gold medals coming from the men's team, women's team and men's regu team.

"Actually, we [the Tat] think our team may win four gold medals, but in the men's regu event we have only a 50 per cent of winning because our players and their rivals are very close," said Tawat.

"In the past 10 years, only Malaysia was our strongest rival, but now we should not overlook anybody, particularly Burma."

The Malaysian squad are under the supervision of head coach Jamaluddin Hassan, who helped his team end a 12-year drought of gold medals at the SEA Games. They hope to share one gold medal and one silver medal with Thai players in Doha.

With much more practice under their belts, the Burmese team will be a dangerous rival for Thailand as they have also defeated Malaysia. Outsiders Indonesia will also be dark horses as the team are coached by Thailand's Somkiat Sungsathitanont, who competed in the SEA Games under the Thai flag and knows all about the Thai team's tactics. "The Indonesian team can defeat Malaysia, but they have never beaten our teams," said Tawat.

The Thai team also have to handle a change of rules on serving. Players are allowed to step on the circle line while serving.

Long-time national team coach Kamol Tunkimhong is worried that the rule change may benefit the Burmese and Malaysian squads.

"The new rules prompted our team to tighten the defensive game and our attack should also be precise, not letting our rivals launch a counter-attack," said Kamol.

"With all our experience in international events and our controlled composure during matches makes our team the favourites. Now they are ready for the Games and I think they will do well this time," he added. The men's team are drawn with South Korea and Indonesia in Group A, while Group B has Burma, Japan, India and Malaysia.

In the men's regu event, the Thai squad are in a different group to Malaysia with both sides facing a possible showdown in the final.

In the women's team competition, Vietnam are a shoo-in, while China may be the surprise package.

Key player Suebsak Phansueb will lead Thai team to Doha on November 29 and they start their campaign with the team event on December 2, with the men's and women's doubles events making their debut in Qatar.

Somporn Suphop

The Nation