Kuala lumpur: Defending champions Malaysia has been drawn with Japan and Singapore in Group A of the premier division for the regu event in the 2026 Sepak Takraw World Cup, scheduled to take place at Titiwangsa Stadium from May 16 to 23. According to BERNAMA News Agency, powerhouse Thailand, Iran, and India are in Group B, while Myanmar, Vietnam, China, and Indonesia are in Group C. The Philippines, Taiwan, South Korea, and Brunei make up Group D. For the premier division team regu event, Malaysia finds itself alongside India and Myanmar in Group B, with defending champions Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam in Group A. Group C consists of South Korea, Singapore, and Japan, while Group D includes Indonesia, China, and Brunei. National sepak takraw head coach Ahmad Jais Baharun described the draw as balanced, noting the strengths present in each group that will demand a high level of consistency from players. "If we look at the draw, every group is balanced. But we will focus on one match at a time as we need to be more consistent. We also want to raise the performance of players, especially since we're the runners-up in the team regu event," he stated after the draw at the Malaysian Sepak Takraw Academy Complex. He emphasized that India and Myanmar should not be underestimated due to their recent improvements. "This means we need to be well prepared so we aren't caught by surprise later," he added. In the inaugural quadrant premier division, Malaysia is drawn with India, Singapore, and South Korea in Group C. Group A includes China, Brunei, and Myanmar; Group B consists of the Philippines, Taiwan, and Iran; and Group D features Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand.