PSM Places High Hopes On Budget 2025 

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- Sepaktakraw Association of Malaysia (PSM) president, Datuk Mohd Sumali Reduan hopes that Budget 2025 will provide a fresh boost to the development of sepak takraw in the country.

He emphasised the importance of government funding to ensure that the traditional sport continues to grow and gain a place in the hearts of Malaysians, especially among the Malay community.

"Of course, I hope this budget will focus on the development of sepaktakraw. The sport is gaining popularity and showing rapid progress. We are also preparing for several major tournaments.

“…and I hope there will be an allocation for the setting up of a sepaktakraw academy starting from now, as we will surely see results in two to three years," he said when contacted by Bernama today.

He added that without government assistance for the development and establishment of a national sepaktakraw academy, plans to further expand the sport, which is highly popular among Malays and at the grassroots level, would be hindered.

Meanwhile, Mohd Sumali also hopes that the construction of a sepaktakraw stadium will be given serious consideration in Budget 2025.

"We are not asking for a very large stadium that requires a huge budget, just one with moderate capacity, and it could be named Stadium Sepaktakraw Malaysi," he said.

Additionally, he hopes that the achievements of the national squad in major tournaments, including the World Cup, will be a factor in the government giving attention to sepaktakraw in Budget 2025.

Previously, PSM successfully organised the 2024 Sepaktakraw World Cup at Stadium Titiwangsa, where Malaysia won two gold medals in the men’s regu and doubles events, and the tournament attracted an impressive number of spectators.

Budget 2025 will be tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the Finance Minister, in the Dewan Rakyat on Oct 18.

-- BERNAMA