Kuala lumpur: Malaysian Sepak Takraw Federation president Datuk Mohd Sumali Reduan has urged the national team to prepare for a revitalized Thailand in the upcoming 2026 Sepak Takraw World Cup. Thailand, a traditional force in the sport, is expected to make significant changes to reclaim its dominance at Stadium Titiwangsa.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Thailand is not taking its recent defeat to Malaysia in the team regu event at this year's Thailand SEA Games lightly. The country is implementing comprehensive preparations, including revamping its player roster and coaching strategies. "After losing at home, Thailand will not sit still. They are making changes not only in terms of players but also training and team management," Mohd Sumali stated after introducing the national players for the tournament.
Aside from Thailand, Mohd Sumali anticipates tough competition from India, South Korea, and Japan, especially in the quadrant event. Despite these challenges, he remains optimistic that Malaysia can reach the finals in all three contested events-regu, quadrant, and team-particularly with the advantage of playing on home turf.
He emphasized that while the national squad is strong, improvements are necessary, particularly in the quadrant event. The team needs to enhance several technical facets, including the blocking system and tactical variations, to stay competitive. He noted that the national quadrant lineup has significant potential, having previously secured the Asian title. "If we look at the quadrant event, all countries are evenly matched because it depends a lot on tactics. That is why we need to quickly rectify our weaknesses, especially in terms of three-player blocking," he remarked.
Malaysia's sepak takraw squad ended a long-standing title drought in the team regu event by defeating Thailand 2-0 in the 2025 SEA Games final, a victory that marked the end of a 34-year wait since winning the title at the 1991 SEA Games in Manila.
The defending champions have been placed in Group A of the premier division regu event at the 2026 Sepak Takraw World Cup, scheduled to take place at Stadium Titiwangsa from May 16 to 23. They will face Japan and Singapore in the group stage.