Ancient Asian game draws lots of interest

Columbus Dispatch

Columbus

The ancient Asian game looks like a combination of soccer and volleyball, with players making acrobatic kicks and other moves to score points.

Called Sepaktakraw, the game is drawing crowds at this year’s Asian Festival, at the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.

‘We just want to show different people what sport it is that we play,’ said KP Chindasack, 47, of Columbus, a player and an organizer for the tournament at this year’s festival.

Chindasack, who was born in Laos in Southeast Asia, said the game dates to the 16th century and remains popular throughout Asia.

As in soccer, the rules prohibit players from using their hands to return a small, plastic ball (once upon a time, the ball was bamboo) over a net.

Playing three to a side, players twisted their bodies with their legs high over their heads to spike the ball into the opponent’s side of the net to score. Players also can use their head and other body parts to return the ball or block an opponent’s shot.

Festival visitors walking through the park yesterday stopped and watched as seven teams from throughout the U.S. played in the tournament.

‘It’s pretty acrobatic. It takes a lot of skill. It’s fast paced and intense,’ said Brandon Mendenhall, 33 of Columbus. ‘It’s pretty impressive some of the kicks they pull off.’

Like the rest of the festival, the Sepaktakraw tournament will conclude today.

Besides watching Sepaktakraw, visitors sampled Asian food; checked out vendors selling Asian clothing, jewelry and accessories; watched martial-arts demonstrations; and learned more about the culture of several Asian countries.