Building on their impressive performance in the King's Cup Sepaktakraw World Championship, Thailand's team is eagerly anticipating the 19th Asian Games starting in Hangzhou on September 23.

BANGKOK, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- A round of cheers erupted throughout the arena, as a female athlete gracefully twisted her body and skilfully executed a bicycle kick and sent the speeding yellow sepaktakraw ball back into the opponent's court for a point.

Such was a snapshot of Thailand's women's sepaktakraw national team preparing for the upcoming Hangzhou Asian Games. Building on their impressive performance in the King's Cup Sepaktakraw World Championship held in Thailand in July, the Thai team is eagerly anticipating the 19th Asian Games starting in Hangzhou on September 23.

Brimming with confidence, coach Komkrit Tapkaew said the team had started their preparation for the Asian Games in January and was exceptionally competitive in both doubles and team events.

"At the Hangzhou Asian Games, they will be facing formidable opponents like China, Republic of Korea and Vietnam, all of whom are continuously elevating their skill levels. Nevertheless, our players have thoroughly prepared and are eager to showcase their best performances," Komkrit told Xinhua, stressing the importance of the Asian Games as the highest-level competition for sepaktakraw.

With seven Asian Games appearances, Komkrit said he was impressed by the impressive Asian Games in Guangzhou, China in 2010, adding that he believed the Hangzhou Asian Games would be equally successful.

Phayomsri Yongsa, a team member with 22 years of sepaktakraw experience and a two-time gold medalist in her five previous Asian Games appearances, expressed her fondness of the Asian Games' official slogan "Heart to Heart, @Future".

"It symbolizes fostering friendships among athletes through sports and making sports a bridge that brings people closer together," she said.

Noting that it would be her last Asian Games, Phayomsri added that she was looking forward to winning two more gold medals and concluding her career on a high note.

Phayomsri's teammate Binmapa Kaewkamsai said she was equally excited about the Asian Games, adding that the whole team has prepared well for the upcoming tournament.

"It will be my first time competing in China, and we will face opponents from countries with increasingly higher skill levels which might pose a challenge," said the 26-year-old, who began playing the sport at the age of 10 under the influence of her sister, a fellow national team player, and her father, a national team coach.

Sepaktakraw is a traditional and highly popular sport in Southeast Asia. Komkrit said that while Thailand was not the birthplace of sepaktakraw, the country has played a significant role in promoting it as a formal competitive sport, including training athletes from other countries.

"It's a way to strengthen cooperation among nations. This not only expands the global influence of sepaktakraw but also diversifies the sport's competitions," he said.

"China is a great country, advanced in various aspects, including sports. I hope this Asian Games can help propel sepaktakraw towards global recognition and ultimately, the Olympics."