KUALA LUMPUR: Just a month after its inception, the Malaysian Sepak Takraw Confederation (MSC) have been entrusted to coordinate the Malaysia Sports League (MSL) and host the 2023 World Under-21 championship.
The MSL, which will be organised by the Sports Ministry, is scheduled to be held from March to August in the states, with the final national rounds in October.
The hosting of the 2023 World Under-21 championship was awarded to the newly formed MSC by the Asian Sepak Takraw Federation (ASTAF) on March 5.
MSC Deputy President Datuk Seri Khairudin Abd Samad said that the opportunity and trust given by the Sports Ministry and ASTAF is a positive sign.
"Sepak takraw is one of the five types of sports offered in the 2022 MSL besides core sports like football, badminton, basketball and netball.
"MSL aim to realise the government's intention in promoting and making Malaysia a sports nation in line with the National Sports Vision 2030.
"It is not easy for a young national body like MSC to be given such an opportunity and we are grateful to Astaf for the Under-21 World Championship.
"We believe that sepak takraw will receive a warm response in terms of team participation and the support of the fans as well as widespread media coverage and subsequently succeed in meeting the main goal of organising MSL 2022."
The MSL 2022 sepak takraw competition is open to everyone, except state and national players from the Sepak Takraw League (STL), the Khir Johari Gold Cup National Championship, King of Thailand Cup, Sea Games and Asian Games from 2018.
The national finals will pit the champions from each state in October which is expected to be held in conjunction with National Sports Day on Oct 9.