History

The sport dates back to the 15th century when it was played by indigenous Malays. Back then it was called "Sepak Raga" (lit. "Kick ball") and played mainly by men and boys using a circle formation. They used a ball made of cane or rattan. The game remained in that form for hundreds of years until the 1940s when a net (called a "Jaring" in Malay) and formal rules were introduced. By this time, the game was also being played in Thailand where it was known as "Takraw". Variations of the game spread throughout Asia. In the Philippines the sport was called "Sipa", in Burma it was dubbed "Ching loong", in Laos "Kator" and in Indonesia "Rago".

The increasing popularity of the game soon led to competitions within the various countries. By 1965, when it made its debut in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, the rules had been standardised and the sport became officially known as "Sepak Takraw". The choice of this name was essentially a compromise between Malaysia and Thailand, the powerhouse players of the sport.