ISTAF SuperSeries
The ISTAF SuperSeries is an international sepaktakraw competition organized by the International Sepaktakraw Federation (ISTAF). Alongside the ISTAF World Cup, the ISTAF SuperSeries brings together the best sepaktakraw players annually to showcase the sport to the international audience.[1] As the only elite international sepaktakraw tournaments recognized by ISTAF, both tournaments lend a higher weightage to the official ISTAF World Rankings.
The ISTAF SuperSeries is held in a grand prix format whereby national teams compete in a series of tournaments during a season. The first season was held between September 2011 to July 2012 and 4 ISTAF SuperSeries was organized during that debut season. The first series for the second season is slated to be held in New Delhi, India from 29 August to 1 September 2013.[2]
ISTAF SuperSeries Summary
| Season | Number of SuperSeries | ISTAF SuperSeries Overall (Men) | ISTAF SuperSeries Overall (Women) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold (Men) |
Silver (Men) |
Bronze (Men) |
Gold (Women) |
Silver (Women) |
Bronze (Women) | ||
| 2011/2012 | 4 |  Thailand |  Malaysia |  South Korea | Thailand |  Vietnam | Malaysia |
Format of ISTAF SuperSeries
The ISTAF SuperSeries features the ‘Regu’ match format, where each team is represented by three (3) players on court, with two (2) additional substitutes. Traditionally, the three players on the court are divided into three specialist positions; the ‘tekong’ who serves the ball; the ‘feeder’ who sets the ball up and facilitates the attack, and; the ‘killer’ or striker, who spikes the ball set by the feeder.
Matches are played using a best of five (5) format, where teams compete to win three (3) sets. Once one team wins three (3) sets, the remaining sets (if any) are discarded. E.g., if Team A wins the first three (3) sets, it wins the match, and the remaining two (2) sets are not played.
Teams were awarded points based on the number of sets they won, as opposed to the traditional group scoring based on wins and losses. This system was devised to bolster competitive spirit, rewarding teams for every set they won, regardless of whether they won the match. E.g., if Team A defeats Team B by a set score of three to two (3 – 2), a traditional scoring system would award three (3) points to Team A, and zero (0) points to Team B. The set scoring system awards three (3) points to Team A, and two (2) points to Team B, narrowing the points difference between teams for hard fought matches.
ISTAF Medal Tally
| Teams | Gold (Men) |
Silver (Men) |
Bronze (Men) |
Total (Men) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand | 1 (2011/2012) | - | - | 1 |
| Malaysia | - | 2 (2011/2012) (2012/2013) | - | 2 |
| South Korea | - | 1 (2011/2012)2 |
| Teams | Gold (Women) |
Silver (Women) |
Bronze (Women) |
Total (Women) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand | 2 (2011/2012) (2012/2013) | - | - | 2 |
| Vietnam | - | 2 (2011/2012) (2012/2013) | - | 2 |
| Malaysia | - | - | 1 (2011/2012) | 1 |
References
- ↑ "Intentions to expand the ISTAF SuperSeries in Season Two". Sports Business Insider. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- ↑ "SEPAK TAKRAW: India to host first leg". The New Straits Times. Retrieved 12 June 2013.