The sepak takraw women’s team is expected to get the first taste of victory at the SEA Games in their Tuesday hoops final, to be held one day before the Games’ opening ceremony.

As one of the world strongest teams in the hoops event (five players kicking into suspended hoops), Viet Nam have the most potential to take the top spot. This is especially true because Thailand, their arch-rival in all competitions, will not take part.

Sepak takraw at the SEA Games are divided in to eight categories, four each for men and women. Each country may only compete in six of the events. Thailand, lost to Viet Nam at this year’s King’s Cup, which was previously considered the world championship, on home turf and decided to keep out of this event.

Only Viet Nam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines will compete for the gold medal. Many people assume that the event will be a piece of cake for the Vietnamese women because their rivals are considered underdogs. None have ever even tied with Viet Nam in previous games.

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All six athletes who triumphed at the King’s Cup will play at the Games, including Nguyen Thi Hoa and Tran Thu Hang, who are both productive players.

While the hoop team is confident of winning gold, the girls in the regu (playing 3-on-3) event intend to collect on a debt after losing to Thailand two years ago in Nakhon Ratchasima.

There has not been a roster change since that game, although Luu Thi Thanh quickly returned to form after taking a year and a half off and then training for six months.

Thanh’s outstanding performance was crucial for Viet Nam’s win at the King’s Cup. This victory strengthened the morale among the team, leaving the ageing of their team members as the only remaining worry.

Viet Nam, Laos and Malaysia round out group B. The two strongest teams will advance to the next stage.

The 24th SEA Games were considered a failure for the men’s Vietnamese team. They made it to three finals but didn’t win any. All of their losses were to Thailand, the native country of the sport.

But because of a new rule this year, Thailand can not take part in all events, leaving a chance for other teams in the doubles event.

“This event is a good chance for us. We have worked on it a lot recently and Thailand will not take part,” said Nguyen Xuan Hanh, general secretary of the Viet Nam Sepak Takraw Federation.

In Korat two years ago, the Vietnamese duo took a bronze medal.

Hanh added that Viet Nam would also have the chance to make it to the final match of the regu event as their rivals – Indonesia, Malaysia and Laos – in the qualifying round are not very strong. Only Malaysia was considered a real challenge.

The sepak takraw team left for Laos yesterday and they will only have today to familiarise themselves with the venue, the International Trade Exhibition and Convention Centre, 10 minutes by car from the centre of Vientiane.

VNN/VNS