Malaysia to meet Thailand in ISTAF final today

Malaysia booked their berth in the final of the ISTAF Super Series Malaysia 2013/2014 sepak takraw championship after they trounced Japan 3-0 in the semi-final at the Likas Sports Complex here this morning.

In the final later today, Malaysia will be meeting Thailand who eliminated Indonesia also 3-0 in the other semi-final match.

In today's match, Malaysia's trio of Noor Azman Hamid, Syazreen Qamar Salehan and Hanafiah Dollah were given a tought fight by Hiroki Takahashi, Tsubasa Sato and Masanori Hayashi in the beginning of the first set but in the end it was the hosts who prevailed in 15-11.

The second set saw both teams playing neck-and-neck with the score reading like 3-3,4-4,5 -5,7-7 and 8-8 but from 8-8 the Malaysians sailed away to a 15-8 victory.

It was game, set and match when Malaysia overpowered Japan 15-2 in the third set to clinch a 3-0 victory en route to the final.