SEPAK RAGA TUJU NEED TO BE PROMOTED AGGRESSIVELY - SYED RAZLAN

KANGAR, Feb 5 (Bernama) -- ''Sepak raga tuju'', a traditional sport similar to

sepaktakraw, need to be aggressively promoted to gain global status says Arau

Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Diraja Syed Razlan Putra Jamalullail.

The game played in a round court unlike sepaktakraw that is played in a

square court with a net in the centre to separate two opposing teams, requires

players to show their juggling skills before aiming their shot at their selected

opponent to score points.

It was once a game of village youths that uses rattan ball and has been

around for more than 600 years since the Melaka Sultanate in the 15th century.

Today, the game has evolved into a competitive sport called ''sepak raga

tuju'' but basically popular in the north, especially Kedah and Perlis.

"To popularize the sport, a national association must first be formed with a

standard set of rules and registered with the National Sports Council (NSC). I

am also willing to support the initiative," said Syed Razlan who had once headed

the Malaysian Rugby Union (MRU).

Meanwhile, in a ''sepak raga tuju'' tournament organised by the ''Jawatankuasa

Kemajuan dan Keselamatan Kampung, Arau and Majlis Perbandaran Kangar (MPK), 22

teams from all over the country took part.

-- BERNAMA

RIS AD JRL