Women’s sepaktakraw team captain in the dark about Asiad opponents’ strengths

KUALA LUMPUR: Captain Nurul Izzatul Hikmah Mohd Zulkifli will lead the women’s sepaktakraw team to the Asian Games again but this time, she’s feeling mounting pressure.

Her concern is understandable as the women’s team have not played in any international tournament as part of their preparation for the Asiad in Indonesia from Aug 18-Sept 2.

“We’ve been sparring with the men’s team for more than a month and we also competed in all four of the boys’ National Under-21 circuits but we lost all matches,” said Nurul Izzatul.

Due to a lack of international exposure, Nurul said they wouldn’t know the strength of their opponents.

“We’re unsure where the others stack up. As the captain, the pressure is building up as I want to lead the team to our first-ever medal in the Asian Games,” said the Terengganu lass.

Women’s sepaktakraw was introduced at the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games but the Malaysian women only featured for the first time in Incheon, South Korea, four years ago.

Malaysia featured in the doubles and regu events but returned empty-handed.

At theAsiad, Malaysia will compete in the team and quadrant events.

The 26-year-old Nurul, who led the team to a silver in the regu and bronze in the doubles at the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games last year, was disappointed that their favourite events had been scrapped.

“It’s sad that events that we won medals in at the SEA Games are not included in the Asian Games. We’ll have to make do and give our best,” said Nurul Izzatul, who plays as the killer in the team event.

For the Asian Games, the women’s team are drawn in Group B with India, Japan, Vietnam and Myanmar while Thailand are in Group A with Indonesia, South Korea and Laos.

For the quadrant event, Malaysia are drawn with Thailand, Japan, Vietnam and India while Indonesia, Laos, Korea and Myanmar are in Group A.