French Association of Sepak Takraw
SportSepaktakraw
AbbreviationAFST
Founded2003; 21 years ago (2003)
AffiliationInternational Sepaktakraw Federation (ISTAF)
Location8 Ingwiller Street, Schiltigheim, France
PresidentPatrick Laemmel
Official website
www.takrawfrance.com
France

The French Association of Sepak Takraw (French: Association Française de Sepak Takraw; AFST) is the national governing body for sepaktakraw in France, founded in 2003 by Patrick Laemmel and Franck Michel in the city of Schiltigheim,[1][2] and subsequently gained the membership status from the Federation of European Sepak Takraw Associations (FESTA) and the International Sepaktakraw Federation (ISTAF) in 2008.[1][3] The association is responsible for organized its annual tournaments, l'Open de France and the European Sepaktakraw Championship, which was established in 2003,[1] co-ordinating the domestic sepaktakraw clubs,[4] as well as a selection of players for the international competitions.[1][3]

The French Association of Sepak Takraw has not been recognized as the official sepaktakraw governing body by the ministry of national education, youth, and sports of France, which causes all association activities to rely on community supports.[1] In 2019, the French national team was early expected to participate at the 34th King's Cup Sepaktakraw World Championship in Thailand, unfortunately, withdrew for undisclosed reasons.[5][6]

History

The modern sepaktakraw was first brought to France in Alsace during the late 90s by two French athletes, Patrick Laemmel and Franck Miche, who have a significant role in the growth of sepaktakraw in the country.[1] Until 2008, the Federation of European Sepak Takraw Associations was established, aiming to promote and organize the continental tournament in Europe, under the regulation of the International Sepaktakraw Federation, France was included in the alliance and also competed in the tournament under the name of the French Association of Sepak Takraw (AFST).[1][3] The ASFT was founded by Patrick Laemmel in 2003, its head office is located in the city of Schiltigheim, where the first registered french sepaktakraw club originated.[7] At that time, there were six sepaktakraw clubs affiliated with the AFST including; the club of Schiltigheim, Wittenheim-Mulhouse, Évry, Les Herbiers, Toulouse, and Lille.[1]

Within a year after the inception of the AFST, the organization subsequently launched the first its own tournament, named, l'Open de France,[1][2][8] which was later considered as the most important sepaktakraw tournament in Europe, and the first ever in France.[1][2] In the latest edition, 11th Open de France, which was held at Malteries Gymnasium of Schiltigheim, there were twelve national teams participated namely, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, India, China, Iran, the Philippines, Germany, France, Switzerland, Belgium, and Brazil.[7] Moreover, the AFST also conducted the European Sepaktakraw Championship in the same year, in which only the European clubs can participate; in the 2018 edition, which was being held in Toulouse, there were fifteen teams participated.[7][4] Nevertheless, despite being considered as the most active sepaktakraw association in Europe,[2] the AFST did not get any recognition as the sport governing body from the related-ministry, which causes a lack of government subsidy.[1] The association movement usually relies on its own budget and the support of the Schiltigheim communities as well as the Mairie; that included organizing the international tournaments.[1]

Nowadays, the number of French sepak takraw clubs is significantly increased compared to the foremost era of the AFST. Outside Paris, several clubs in Seine-Saint-Denis are affiliated with the AFST.[9] Additionally in Essonne, Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois, Toulouse, Lyon, Mulhouse, Nantes, Strasbourg, Schiltigheim as well as in the oversea territories, the French Guiana and Réunion.[9] Moreover, the regional sepaktakraw association also found, such as, the Association de Sepak Takraw de Toulouse (ASTT) in Toulouse and the Association Cannoise de Sepak Takraw (ACST) in Cannes.[4][10]

Affiliated club

Some affiliated clubs of the French Association of Sepak Takraw was listed below;[4][10]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Grand angle Alsace : accros au sepak takraw". Libération (in French). March 19, 2013. Archived from the original on September 8, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d M. Zulkifli (January 19, 2017). "While Asia may be the home of Takraw, there are many other talents from around the world". Red Bull GmbH. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Marie-Sophie Villin (March 30, 2018). "Le Chinlone, un sport ancestral en voie de disparition?". Le Petit Journal (in French). Archived from the original on September 29, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d "VIDEO. Toulouse: Quatre sports hors normes à pratiquer près de chez vous". 20 minutes (France) (in French). April 4, 2019. Archived from the original on April 5, 2019.
  5. ^ "31 ชาติหวดตะกร้อ คิงส์คัพ ครั้งที่ 34". Kom Chad Luek (in Thai). August 21, 2019. Archived from the original on September 19, 2019. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  6. ^ "ระเบิดศึกตะกร้อ'คิงส์คัพ'ครั้งที่34 'โมโน29-โมโนแมกซ์'ยิงสดทุกคู่". Naewna [th] (in Thai). August 23, 2019. Archived from the original on September 25, 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  7. ^ a b c "Sepak Takraw - De jeudi à dimanche à Schiltigheim: Haut les pieds !". Les Dernières Nouvelles d'Alsace (in French). September 2, 2015. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021.
  8. ^ "Turniere in Europa". German Sepaktakraw Association (in German). 2015. Archived from the original on October 25, 2019. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  9. ^ a b Romain Pomian-Bonnemaison (January 19, 2014). "Les nouveaux explorateurs: où peut-on pratiquer le Sepak Takraw en France?". Terrafemina [fr] (in French). Archived from the original on January 6, 2015.
  10. ^ a b "European Sepak Takraw League". European Sepak Takraw Associations. 2003. Archived from the original on March 3, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2021.

External links

Sports governing bodies in France  (FRA)
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