Philippines aims to uncover young talent as it hosts the inaugural ASTAF U19 Asian Sepaktakraw Championship

The Philippines is set to host the inaugural 2026 ASTAF Under-19 Asian Sepaktakraw Championship later this year, and the Philippine Sepaktakraw Association Inc. (PSTAI) is using the event to unearth young talent while promoting sepaktakraw as a serious competitive sport.

The tournament is expected to feature over 600 athletes aged 15 to 17 from 10 to 12 countries. Competitions will be held across men’s and women’s regu, quad, and mixed quadrant categories, providing a platform for the continent’s best youth players to showcase their skills.

PSTAI president Karen Tanchanco-Caballero stressed that the association is leaving no stone unturned in preparing the national team. “So as we speak, we are already in motion coordinating with all the clubs and regional directors across the country to ensure that talents are all considered. So there will be a lot of inter-town, inter-barangay,” she said during a press conference at the Rizal Memorial Stadium Media Hall.

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She added, “But we are also collecting the CVs of these kids. We know them from a few years ago in Palarong Pambansa, Batang Pinoy. So we already know them, but we still want to dig deeper and see more talents.”

Pilipinas Sepak Takraw Association president Karen Caballero believes holding the inaugural U19 Asian Championship in the country gives the sport a chance to appeal to more Filipinos https://t.co/EBkfZWWeEt

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The Philippines secured the rights to host the championship in December 2025, marking a historic moment as the first-ever youth-focused international sepaktakraw tournament. “We had a meeting in Bangkok last December with leaders from different countries, and they are very excited that finally there is a big event specifically for youth sepak. So it wasn’t challenging for us to encourage participation and support from Asian countries,” Tanchanco-Caballero said.

International Sepaktakraw Federation Deputy President and Asian Sepaktakraw Federation Deputy Secretary General Muhammad Fariq Abdul Halim believes the Philippines has the potential to become a top contender in Asia with the right training and support. “If you ask me whether the Philippines are in the top five in Asia, I say yes. And now with Quadrant, they can be the next champion if proper training and education are given to all the athletes, plus mental preparedness and readiness — that’s the most important,” he said.

Abdul Halim added, “If we have a proper program with the support of the PSC, I don’t think the Filipino Sepaktakraw Association will have a problem grabbing at least a top-four medal. I’m saying a top-four medal.”

For Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) president Patrick Gregorio, the event also reinforces the country’s position as a hub for international sports in Southeast Asia. Renovations are planned for the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila to accommodate the tournament, with benefits extending to other sports as well.

The Philippine national team is expected to be finalized in July, with young athletes training alongside the senior squad at a regional center in Bukidnon. The 2026 ASTAF Under-19 Asian Sepaktakraw Championship is scheduled for November 18 to 24, 2026, marking a key milestone for the growth of sepaktakraw in the country and across Asia.

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