Sepak Takraw League

Malaysian professional sports league From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Sepak Takraw League, often referred as STL, is a Malaysian men's professional league for sepak takraw, a sport native to Southeast Asia. The competition was established in 2014 by the Sepak Takraw Association of Malaysia (PSM) and Astro Group’s subsidiary, Asia Sports Ventures, to develop the sport and groom players for the Malaysia men's national team. Since 2016, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between a top division called STL Premier and a second division called STL Division 1. A cup competition called STL Champions Cup was introduced in 2017, featuring the top teams from STL Premier and STL Division 1 as well as invitational sides from around Asia. All competitions under the league use the official International Sepaktakraw Federation (ISTAF) rules and regulation.

Quick Facts Sport, Founded ...
Sepak Takraw League
SportSepak takraw
Founded7 November 2014; 10 years ago (2014-11-07)
No. of teams22 (2024)
CountryMalaysia
Most recent
champion(s)
KL Thunder
(2024)
Most titlesPenang Black Panthers (3)
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Since 2018, it has been administered by PSM and Astro Group under a different subsidiary, Astro Arena.

History

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Origins

Malaysian sepak takraw was on the decline due to a talent pool shortage in the 2010s, with only 29 players available for national team selection at one point.[1] A professional sepak takraw league was mooted in 2013 after Astro and UFA Sports Asia launched Singapore-based Asia Sports Ventures to undertake the development and global commercialisation of sepak takraw.[2] Numerous discussions were held involving stakeholders to form a league similar to the Takraw Thailand League (TTL), which has been running since 2002.[3] STL was officially launched by then Malaysian Minister of Youth and Sports Khairy Jamaluddin and PSM president Ahmad Ismail in Putrajaya on 7 November 2014.[4]

Foundation year

In its first season, 128 teams from seven zones in Peninsular Malaysia such as Perak participated in preliminary rounds to qualify for the main competition. The best 16 teams were drawn into four groups, with the top two teams of each group progressing to the knockout stage. Hanelang A were the inaugural STL champions after beating PDRM D in the Grand Final on 18 January 2015 and took home a grand prize of RM20,000.[5]

Professional era

The competition immediately entered its professional era the following season as teams were consolidated and the league was narrowed down to eight teams.[6] After the 2015 season, in which ATM became its first professional-era champion, it underwent another major revamp by introducing a promotion and relegation system.[7] The new format was well-received, with the viewership of STL hitting a new record of 5.6 million viewers in the 2016 season, improving from 4.8 million viewers a year earlier.[8] STL Champions Cup was created the following year to promote the league outside Malaysia.

In 2018, STL played a huge role in helping Malaysia win a gold medal in sepak takraw at the Asian Games for the first time in 24 years,[9] as the five players involved were from the league - Farhan Adam, Zulkifli Abdul Razak, Syahir Rosdi, Azlan Alias and Norhafizi Abdul Razak.[10]

In 2019, the league was officially broadcast outside of Malaysia for the first time when Indonesian broadcaster TVRI covered STL Champions Cup.[11]

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic

Due to the 2020 movement control order, the league was affected[12] and three teams based in East Malaysia, namely Sabah Mountaineers, Sarawak Hunter and Labuan Drillers, did not participate in the 2020 season. Plans to hold the league around the country were also shelved with all STL Premier and Division 1 matches taking place at Titiwangsa Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, with no crowd in attendance. The season began in September 2020 but was halted indefinitely a month later, first due to players and team officials coming into close contact with a person tested positive for COVID-19[13] and then due to a new movement control order imposed in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.[14] The season resumed again in December and concluded with Kuala Lumpur Thunder winning their maiden STL Premier title.[15] The Kuala Lumpur side then became only the second team to do a double by lifting the STL Champions Cup.[16]

10 year anniversary

In 2024, the Grand Prix format [17] was implemented in STL Premier where 5 states were identified as hosts beginning with Selangor, followed by Terengganu, Perak, Penang and Johor. 10 teams from the previous STL Premier season plus 2 promoted teams from STL Division 1 competed in a league and championship format in each 'GP,' accumulating points for every GP win in an overall league table that determines the winner of STL Premier 2024.

KL Thunder created history by sweeping all 5 GP wins to emerge as the overall champion suffreing only 2 losses across a total of 25 games.

Competition format

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Regular season

There are currently 12 clubs in STL Premier. During the course of a season, the clubs play each other twice (a double round-robin system) for 18 games. The teams receive two points for a win and zero points for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, then set difference and then point difference. As of the 2020 season, the top six teams qualify for STL Champions Cup. The two lowest placed teams are relegated to STL Division 1, and the top two teams from STL Division 1 are promoted in their place.

For STL Division 1, there are currently 10 clubs, who play each other once (a round-robin system). Starting with the 2020 season, teams are divided into two groups with the top two of each group progress to a promotion playoff stage. Since 2020, the two teams that reach the promotion playoff final are promoted to STL Premier and qualify for STL Champions Cup.

STL Champions Cup

Since its inception in 2017, the top teams from STL Premier and STL Division 1 as well as several foreign teams compete in this post-season tournament. However, there were no foreign teams in 2018 for unknown reasons. The 2020 tournament was held without any foreign team for the second team, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2024 saw the return of foreign teams to the competition, pitted against the top 4 teams from STL Premier. The 8 teams were divided into 2 groups played a basic round-robin system with the top 2 teams in each group moving on to the semi finals.

Sponsorship

Thumb
The logo of the league featuring its first title sponsor, Emas Anuar for 2021-2023 season.[18]
More information Season, Title Sponsor ...
Season Title Sponsor Official Sponsors/Partners
2016[19] Budi Group, Dashing, Ekspres Perdana,[20] iBookCourt, Marathon,

Minamax Construction, National Education Savings Scheme, Sinar,

Sports Arena Sentosa, Spritzer, Subang Jaya City Council

2017 Cactus, FBT, Innate Energy, iSooka, Sinar
2018 Era, FBT, Gegar, Sinar FM, Twitter[21]
2019[22] Gegar, Gem In Mall,[23] Jazz Hotel, Li-Ning, M Roof Hotel & Residences,

Nokia, Sinar Harian, Syok, Zayan

2020 Idemitsu,[24] Li-Ning,[25] Sinar Harian
2021/ 2022[26][18] Kedai Emas Anuar Utusan Malaysia, BP Healthcare, Li-Ning, Idemitsu, Zayan, Sinar FM
2022/ 2023 Li-Ning, Idemitsu, Zayan, Sinar FM
2024 Li-Ning, Flash Sukan, Zayan, Sinar FM, Gegar
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Champions

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STL (Amateur Era)

More information Season, Champions ...
Season Champions Runners-up
2014 Hanelang A PDRM D
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STL Premier

More information Season, Champions ...
Season Champions Runners-up
2015 ATM Guardians Penang Black Panthers
2016 Penang Black Panthers Kuala Lumpur Thunder
2017 Penang Black Panthers Kuala Lumpur Thunder
2018 Penang Black Panthers ATM Guardians
2019 Perak Bison ATM Guardians
2020 Kuala Lumpur Thunder ATM Guardians
2021/22 ATM Guardians Kuala Lumpur Thunder
2022/23 Perak Bison Kuala Lumpur Thunder
2024 Kuala Lumpur Thunder Perak Bison
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STL Division 1

More information Season, Champions ...
Season Champions Runners-up
2016 Perak Bison PSM Mavericks*
2017 Melaka Titans PDRM Defenders
2018 Negeri Sembilan Antlers Sabah Mountaineers
2019 Selangor Pistons Pahang Mammoth
2020 Bomba Fighters Putrajaya Cyborg
2021/22 Melaka Titans KPT-Masum Knights
2022/23 PDRM Defenders Terengganu Turtles
2024 Kelantan Warriors Selangor Pistons
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*Selangor Pistons were promoted instead of PSM Mavericks (then known as PSM A)

STL Champions Cup

More information Season, Champions ...
Season Champions Runners-up
2017 Penang Black Panthers Perak Bison
2018 Penang Black Panthers ATM Guardians
2019 Johor Tigris Penang Black Panthers
2020 Kuala Lumpur Thunder Penang Black Panthers
2021/22 Kuala Lumpur Thunder Johor Tigris
2022/23 Negeri Sembilan Antlers Perak Bison
2024 Negeri Sembilan Antlers Kuala Lumpur Thunders
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Clubs

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Current

More information Club, Current division in 2024 ...
Club Current division
in 2024
First season in
STL Premier
First season of
current spell in
STL Premier
Total seasons in
STL Premier
Best result in
STL Premier
STL Champions Cup

appearances

ATM GuardiansPremier201520156Champions (2015, 2021/22)3 (2018, 2019, 2020)
Bomba FightersDivision 1202120211-1 (2020)
Johor TigrisPremier2015201563rd (2019, 2020)3 (2018, 2019, 2020)
Kedah EaglesDivision 12015-27th (2016)-
Kelantan WarriorsPremier2015202464th (2015, 2017)4 (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
KPT MASUM KnightsDivision 1-----
Kuala Lumpur ThunderPremier201520156Champions (2020, 2024)4 (2017, 2018, 2021/22,2022/23, 2024)
Melaka TitansDivision 12015-37th (2015)1 (2017)
Negeri Sembilan AntlersPremier2019201924th (2020)3 (2018, 2019, 2020, 2024)
Pahang MammothDivision 12020-19th (2020)-
PDRM DefendersPremier2018-37th (2018)1 (2017)
Penang Black PanthersPremier201520156Champions (2016, 2017, 2018)4 (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
Penjara Enforcers Division 1
Perak BisonPremier201720174Champions (2019, 2023)4 (2017, 2018, 2019, 2024)
Perlis VipersDivision 1-----
PSM MavericksDivision 1-----
Putrajaya CyborgDivision 1202120211-1 (2020)
Sabah Mountaineers Division 1
Sarawak Hunter Division 1
Selangor PistonsPremier2017202437th (2017, 2020)1 (2024)
Terengganu TurtlesPremier2015-52nd (2016)-
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*As of the 2021 season

Former

More information Club, First Season ...
Club First Season Final Season Note
PSM Drillers20162019Did not compete in the 2018 season.
Labuan Drillers20162018Did not compete in the 2019 season. Pulled out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19.
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Name changes

More information Club, Former Name ...
Club Former Name
ATM Guardians ATM
Johor Tigris Southern Tigris
Kedah Eagles Northern Rangers
Kelantan Warriors Gomo Warriors
Kuala Lumpur Thunder City Flyers
Melaka Titans Green Titans
Penang Black Panthers Black Panthers
Perak Bison Perak The Bos Gaurus
PDRM Defenders PDRM
PSM Mavericks PSM A
PSM Drillers PSM B
Terengganu Turtles East Coast Surfers
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International clubs

More information Club, Country ...
Club Country Season Best performance in
STL Champions Cup
Note
Manang City Voyagers Thailand 2017 3rd
Andalas Islanders Indonesia 2017 Group stage
Korea Haechi South Korea 2019 4th
China Great Wall China 2019 Group stage
Indonesia Garuda Indonesia 2019 Group stage
Singapore Lions Singapore 2019 Group stage
MGPC Singapore Singapore 2024 Group stage
Garuda Sepaktakraw Indonesia 2024 Group stage
Royal Thai Air Force Sepaktakraw Club Thailand 2024 Group stage
STFI India Fighters India 2024 Group stage
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Awards

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STL Premier

More information Season, Most Valuable Player ...
Season Most Valuable Player Best Tekong Best Striker Best Feeder Best Foreign Player Best Coach Best Manager Best Referee Fair Play Award
2015[27] - Tunku Noor Azwari Tunku Ishak (ATM) Wan Anas Muhaimi Wan Asri (Penang) Farhan Adam (Kelantan) - - - - -
2016[19] Syahir Rosdi (Penang) Syahir Rosdi (Penang) Afifuddin Razali (ATM) Amirul Zazwan Amir (Kuala Lumpur) - - - - ATM
2017[28] Syahir Rosdi (Penang) Syahir Rosdi (Penang) Ahmad Fadzil Mustafa (Perak) Aidil Aiman Azwawi (Kelantan) - Sufian Napiah (Penang) - - -
2018[29] Azlan Alias (Penang) Hairul Hazizi (ATM) Azlan Alias (Penang) Farhan Adam (Selangor) - Aswadi Abdullah (ATM) DSP Zakaria (PDRM) - Terengganu
2019[30] Azlan Alias (Penang) Ahmad Aizat Nor Azmi (Kuala Lumpur) Azlan Alias (Penang) Aidil Aiman Azwawi (Kelantan) Apirak Promanee (Kelantan) Aswadi Abdullah (ATM) Major Tajul Hisyam Mamat (ATM) Ariffin Ahmad Rahim Negeri Sembilan
2020 Amirul Zazwan Amir (Kuala Lumpur) Syahir Rosdi (Kuala Lumpur) Hafizul Hayazi Adnan (Negeri Sembilan) Amirul Zazwan Amir (Kuala Lumpur) - Ahmad Supian Napiah (Penang) Zambri Abdul Rahman (Kuala Lumpur) Dr. Che Aziz Yaacob ATM
2021/22 Muhd Afiffudin Razali (ATM) Meor Zulfikar (Perak) Muhd Afiffudin Razali (ATM) Amirul Zazwan Amir (Kuala Lumpur) Aswadi Abdullah (ATM) Mohd Azlee Hj Ahmad Mahiudin (Penang) Bahtiar Junaidi Negeri Sembilan
2022/23 Muhd Zaim Razali (Penang) Rattadech Noijareon (Johor) Noraizat Nordin (Perak) Syahmi Syazwan Aziz (Johor) - Suhairi Abd Aziz (Perak) Zambri Abdul Rahman (Kuala Lumpur) Baharuddin Bahar ATM
2024 Syahir Rosdi (KL Thunder) - - - - Rosli Abd Rahman (KL Thunder) Mohd Jaffrey Mohd Zainol (Perak) Aminunajjah Mohd Yunus -
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STL Division 1

More information Season, Best Tekong ...
Season Best Tekong Best Striker Best Feeder Best Coach Best Manager Fair Play Award
2016[19] Meor Ahmad Zulfikar

Mat Amin (Perak)

Fadzil Mustafa

(Perak)

Safarudin Abu

Bakar (PSM A)

- - Perak
2017[31][32] Sahidan Ali (Melaka) Hafiz Izudin

Wahab (PDRM)

Adli Abu Bakar

(Pahang)

Khairul Anuar

Ibrahim (Melaka)

- -
2018[33] Izwan Zukri (Sabah) Khairol Zaman

Hamir Akhbar

(Negeri Sembilan)

Fakhrul Razi

Ismail (Pahang)

Isa Sidek

(Negeri Sembilan)

Azam Yaakob

(Pahang)

-
2019[34] Adam Aiman Zainol (Putrajaya) Muslim Mohammad

(Putrajaya)

Farhan Adam

(Selangor)

Khairul Bahrin

Abdul Rahman

(Putrajaya)

Yusof Mohamed

(Pahang)

-
2020 Irsyad Faiz Aziz (Bomba) Fadzil Baharudin

(Putrajaya)

Amir Aizad

(MASUM-UPM)

Ahmad Zain

(Bomba)

Ridzuan Ahmad

(Melaka)

-
2024 Puraced Yodsaen (Kelantan) Nonthanan Sombatlay (Selangor) Adli Abu Bakar (Kelantan) Noor Azman Abd Hamid (Selangor) Mahizi Mahmood (Kelantan) -
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STL Champions Cup

More information Season, Most Valuable Player ...
Season Most Valuable Player Best Tekong Best Striker Best Feeder
2017[35] Syahir Rosdi (Penang) Syahir Rosdi (Penang) Fadzil Mustafa (Perak) Farhan Adam (Penang)
2018[36] Syahir Rosdi (Penang) Syahir Rosdi (Penang) Hafizul Hayazi

(Negeri Sembilan)

Aidil Aiman (Kelantan)
2019[37] Noraizat Nordin (Johor) Lim Tae-gyun (Korea) Noraizat Nordin (Johor) Farhan Adam (Penang)
2020 Amirul Zazwan Amir (Kuala Lumpur) Hairul Hazizi (ATM) Shahalril Aiman (Penang) Amirul Zazwan Amir (Kuala Lumpur)
2024 Haziq Nizam (Negeri Sembilan) Syahir Rosdi (KL Thunder) Noraizat Nordin (Perak) Zulefendi Sumari (Negeri Sembilan)
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World feed coverage

More information Broadcaster, Year ...
Broadcaster Year Note
Astro Arena (Malaysia) 2014-current
TVRI (Indonesia) 2019 & 2023 STL Champions Cup only in 2019[11]
ALL SPORTS (USA)[38] 2021
ELEVENSPORTS.com 2022 Available in Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and Hong Kong.[39]
Fiji Broadcasting Centre, Ariana Radio & Television Network (Afghanistan), Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation 2024 Broadcast began from Perak GP
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References

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