Lanka goes down fighting to Germany

Rangi Akbar reporting from Malaysia

Sri Lanka put up a grand show but that was not enough against Germany, one of the leading teams in the sport at the 2011 ISTAF World Cup Sepaktakraw Championships at the Titiwangsa Stadium in Kuala Lumpur yesterday

In fact Sri Lanka took the lead in the first set but the Germans played to a set pattern and soon were in the lead and took the first set at 15-0. Sri Lanka fought like a set of tigers in the second set not allowing the Germans to dictate terms. At one time the scores were 6 all and then again Germany took the lead at 10-6. The ding-dong scoring continued and Sri Lamka lost the second set at 8-15. In the third set too Sri Lanka fought back extremely well but lost the set at  15/2.

Today Sri Lanka will meet Singapore in the afternoon.

As it is it is difficult as to who will win the championship but teams from Iran, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand have fared well and should be able to be among the front runners.