KUALA LUMPUR – National sepak takraw head coach Ahmad Jais Baharun has admitted that Thailand have emerged as a more balanced and formidable side at the 2026 Sepak Takraw World Cup, prompting Malaysia to place special focus on their arch rivals.
Ahmad Jais said Thailand’s blend of experienced senior players and promising youngsters has made them a more stable outfit, with the team already appearing to shape its strongest squad ahead of this year’s Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.
“If we look at Thailand’s line-up, they have combined young and senior players very well.
“This could be the best process for them in selecting the squad for the Asian Games,” he told Scoop when contacted.
He revealed that the national coaching staff had been closely monitoring Thailand and several other competing nations since the opening day of the tournament as part of their preparations and tactical assessment.
“From the very first day, we have been observing the strengths of Thailand and the other teams to do our homework,” he added.
At the same time, Ahmad Jais acknowledged that Malaysia are facing added pressure as hosts, particularly in ensuring the players remain confident and comfortable on court.
“As hosts, there is naturally some pressure on our players. We need to resolve that quickly so they do not feel awkward and can stay motivated to produce their best performances,” he said.
He also explained that the national squad is still undergoing an evaluation process to determine the strongest combinations ahead of the Asian Games.
According to him, players who did not feature in the current World Cup campaign will have an opportunity to prove themselves at the King’s Cup in Thailand before the final 12-man squad is confirmed.
A meeting between Malaysia and Thailand could still take place in the knockout stages or even the final of the ongoing 2026 Sepak Takraw World Cup , depending on both teams’ progress in their respective categories at the tournament, which runs from May 16 to 23 at Stadium Titiwangsa in Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysia opened their Regu campaign against Japan on May 16 before taking on Singapore a day later. The national side will then continue their Team Regu challenge against India on May 20 and Myanmar on May 21. - May 18, 2026
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