The coastline of Mersin, Türkiye, witnessed a landmark moment for both inclusive sport and the global sepak takraw community as Adaptive Sepak Takraw made its international competition debut at the 2025 World Abilitysport Beach Games.

The Games had bold ambitions to bring Para sport to the people with competition held at venues across the shores of the city in seven open-air, aquatic and beach Para sports from 18 to 25 October 2025.

For the first time, athletes with physical impairments competed on an international stage in one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic and acrobatic sports—sepak takraw—demonstrating remarkable skill, teamwork, and adaptability in this fast-paced discipline.

This historic competition was made possible through the ambition and collective efforts of many parties; our Local Organising Committee at the National Paralympic of Türkiye, World Abilitysport Board Member, Maitree Kongruang who facilitated three team’s participation in the competition and the invaluable support of the International Sepaktakraw Federation (ISTAF), who partnered with World Abilitysport for the first time bringing the adaptive discipline of the sport to life.

ISTAF appointed three of their accredited referees, Malihe Shahverdishahraki, Omid Shiri and ISTAF Council Member, Ali Fouladirad to work alongside Prasertnoi Charoensuk, Sutham Puteepotjanart and Thailand’s Disabled Sepak Takraw Association President, Somkuan Wongkamchan.

In a show of commitment to the sport’s growth, ISTAF also provided additional equipment to be gifted to other countries at the Games to begin the development of Adaptive Sepak Takraw nationally.

The inaugural event featured two categories— Arm category and Mixed 1 —with outstanding performances from all teams that left audiences in awe.

In the Arm category, Indonesia showcased its world-class talent, taking home the gold medal, while Thailand earned a hard-fought silver. Laos impressed with their agility and determination, claiming the bronze medal. In the Mixed 1 category, Thailand struck back in dominant form, bagging the gold medal, with Indonesia this time earning the silver. Once again, Laos secured the bronze, rounding off a consistent and inspiring showcase across both divisions.

The debut of Adaptive Sepak Takraw at the World Abilitysport Beach Games marks the beginning of a new era for the sport. Both World Abilitysport and ISTAF expressed their shared commitment to continuing this momentum, aiming to expand opportunities for adaptive athletes and to promote the sport among its respective memberships.

World Abilitysport President, Rudi Van den Abbeele said, ‘It has brought me great pleasure this week seeing the people of Mersin stop in their tracks, open-mouthed watching the adaptive sepak takraw athletes in action! This sport is dynamic, exciting and as it continues to grow we are excited to see where this sport goes – these athletes teach us, the sky is the limit!’

‘I’d like to personally thank Board Member, Maitree Kongruang and the Sports Association for the Disabled of Thailand for their unwavering support of this project and ISTAF’s cooperation to make this competition possible.’ the President concluded.

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