A dozen enthusiasts from Southeast Asia bring the sport of sepak takraw to Toulouse at the Toulouse University Club. This demanding and spectacular discipline is gaining recognition.
Football, tennis, volleyball, kung fu… Stop hesitating and choose sepak takraw! Originating from Asia, this sport has attracted a handful of enthusiasts in the Pink City. Integrated into the Toulouse University Club for four years, the Sepak Takraw Toulouse Association has been around for seventeen years. Earlier this month, they organized their Open tournament, attracting players from all over Europe. The practice is thriving due to its positive spirit. “Everyone was happy and that’s the main thing. We are a small community and every time there is a tournament, everyone is super cool,” explained Louis Lépée, the club president.
However, the club aims to attract more people and spread the practice by the Garonne River. Like in any other club, this will involve focusing on the youth. “The desire to develop takraw mainly targets the youth. Our youth teams had a great time during our tournament. We see that the youth from Évry finished second in Division 2, showing that a generational change is starting to take place. We hope this will serve as a stepping stone, that they bring their friends along, even though in Toulouse we already have quite a few young players.”
A dozen motivated kids already looking forward to future opportunities is a win for the club. “The momentum in Toulouse is very encouraging and we will continue to support these young teams. We will try, with the city of Toulouse, to intervene in recreational centers and holiday clubs.” The club is also not giving up on attracting adults, even though the practice may seem challenging at first. “It’s a bit tough in the beginning because you go through a frustrating phase of mistakes. Losing the ball, making bad passes. The beginner’s learning curve is not easy at all. It’s a bit like learning to play the violin, you struggle for a year and then gradually start finding more pleasure in mastering this demanding sport,” the president smiled.
Appealing to disillusioned football fans, it is possible to come and discover the sport during several trial sessions before fully committing to a practice that continues to improve over time.
