End of Road for Indian Women's Team in Sepaktakraw World Super Series 

Two from Northeast in women’s team end disappointing outing with third consecutive loss

India’s women team, already out of the running of the ISTAF SuperSeries INDIA 2013/14 semi-finals, lost their last group match against South Korea 15-5, 15-8 and 15-6 in New Delhi.

The national team had earlier lost 10-15, 10-15, 8-15 to Indonesia and 15-3, 15-7, 15-9 to second seeds Vietnam on Day 1. Their third consecutive loss today at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex ended a spirited but ultimately disappointing tournament for the team of first-time internationals. 

Dolly Srivastava, C Chaouba Devi (from Manipur) and Keinelino Nakhro (from Nagaland) lost the first set tamely but put on a fighting display in the second. They could not maintain their momentum, however, and ended their final set, and top four hopes, at ISTAF SuperSeries INDIA 2013/14 in 11 minutes.

In earlier Group A matches, Malaysia defeated Japan 15-9, 15-11, 15-11, 15-12 to book their semi-final slot. Indonesia, meanwhile, defeated Vietnam 15-12, 15-7, 15-8.

Malaysia plays Indonesia in the first ISTAF SuperSeries INDIA 2013/14 semi-final while defending champions Thailand face off against Vietnam in the second. Both matches will be played tomorrow.

ISTAF SuperSeries INDIA 2013/14, which ends September 1, kicks-off this year’s ISTAF SuperSeries 2013/14 season. The New Delhi tournament is followed by ISTAF SuperSeries THAILAND 2013/14 in Bangkok from September 26-29 followed by ISTAF SuperSeries MALAYSIA 2013/14 in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah from October 31 to November 3.

Held for the first time in India and the first time outside Southeast Asia, ISTAF SuperSeries is created by Asia Sports Ventures (ASV) and supported by local organisers Sepaktakraw Federation of India (STFI).

Note to editor: A recap of all today’s matches not played at Press time will be included in tomorrow’s report.

Results (Day 2)

Women’s

Group B: Malaysia bt Japan 3-1 (15-9, 15-11, 15-11, 15-12)

Group A: Indonesia bt Vietnam 3-0 (15-12, 15-7, 15-8); Korea bt India 3-0 (15-5, 15-8 and 15-6)

Results (Day 1, Round One late matches)

Women’s

Group A: Vietnam bt South Korea 3-0 (15-5, 15-10, 15-10); Vietnam bt India 3-0 (15-3, 15-7, 15-8)

Group B: Thailand bt Malaysia 3-0 (15-7, 15-9, 15-8)