Istaf to investigate Indonesia sepak takraw walk out

KUALA LUMPU R : T he International Sepak Takraw Federation ( Istaf) will study all reports and video evidence before deciding on the type of action to be taken against Indonesia women’s sepak takraw team for staging a walk out during their match against Malaysia on Sunday.

Istaf secretary general Datuk Abdul Halim Kader said the walk out should not have happened since the Indonesians can use the proper procedure and channel to lodge a protest instead of walking out and leaving the stadium immediately.

“We will look at the reports and video recording before handing out any punishment,” he told reporters here yesterday adding that Indonesia may have breached the regulations under 9.7 of the SEA Games organising committee’s technical rules.

The Indonesian women’s sepak takraw team who were allegedly unhappy with the decision of the referee staged a walk out half way through the second game against Malaysia at the Titiwangsa Stadium on Sunday.

The walk out was the first major incident to mar the 29th SEA Games which officially opened on Saturday in glittering fashion although a glitch in the souvenir programme was spotted featuring the Indonesian f lag ( upsidedown).

Match referee Mohd Radhi Che Mei later awarded the match to Malaysia with a 2- 0 score.

Malaysia had won the first set 22- 20 after a mammoth battle but when Mohd Radhi penalised Indonesian ‘tekong’ Lena’s serve when the score was 16-10 in favour of Indonesia, coach Asry Syam rushed into the court to protest the decision and later urged his players to leave the court in protest despite pleas from team officials.

Asry together with his players Dini Mita Sari, Leni, Florensia Cristy, Lena and Evana Rahmawati later left the Titiwangsa Stadium hurriedly.

Meanwhi le, Abdul Hal im said Istaf would not take action against Cambodia’s last minute withdrawal from the men’s doubles competition because they could not avoid some technical problems that had plagued the team. — Bernama