The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) will play a central role in the country’s hosting of the inaugural ASTAF U-19 Asian Sepaktakraw Championship 2026 from November 26 to 30.
Presented by the PSC and hosted by the Pilipinas Sepaktakraw Association, Inc. (PSTAI), the championship will be held at the Rizal Memorial Sports Coliseum and Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila. Organized under the auspices of the Asian Sepaktakraw Federation (ASTAF), it will be the federation’s first Asian youth championship and the Philippines’ first time hosting the event.
The tournament will use two competition courts at the Rizal Memorial Sports Coliseum and an auxiliary court at Ninoy Aquino Stadium. The latter will also provide two training courts for the participating teams. The opening ceremony is scheduled for November 26, while the medal and closing ceremonies will be held on November 30.
“Hosting the first-ever ASTAF U-19 Asian Sepaktakraw Championship is a proud milestone for Philippine sports. It brings Asia’s brightest young talents to Manila while giving our own athletes the chance to compete, learn, and grow on the international stage without leaving home,” PSC Chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio said.
Beyond staging the tournament, the PSC views the championship as an opportunity to strengthen the development of sepaktakraw in the Philippines. According to Gregorio, sepaktakraw “is one sport that needs special attention. This is one sport that can be developed.”
The PSC has been upgrading sports facilities and equipment in Metro Manila and other parts of the country to improve athlete preparation and strengthen sports development at the grassroots level. Ahead of the championship, the agency is accelerating improvements to the Rizal Memorial Sports Coliseum “so that it will be beautiful and presentable,” Gregorio said.
Gregorio also said that new sporting equipment acquired for international competitions would subsequently be distributed to regional training centers, extending the benefits of the country’s hosting activities to athletes in other parts of the Philippines.
The PSC sees the championship as an opportunity to promote sports tourism and introduce visiting athletes, coaches and officials to Filipino culture and hospitality.
“This championship showcases the Philippines as a premier destination for international sporting events, boosting sports tourism and allowing us to share our culture and renowned Filipino hospitality with our neighbors across Asia,” Gregorio added.
PSTAI President Karen Claire Tanchanco-Caballero said the association recognizes the significance of hosting the inaugural championship and the responsibility that comes with welcoming Asia’s emerging sepaktakraw athletes.
“Hosting the ASTAF U-19 Asian Sepaktakraw Championship is an honor and a responsibility we proudly embrace,” Tanchanco-Caballero said.
The championship will introduce sepaktakraw to new audiences, encourage greater participation in the sport and showcase the Philippine U-19 national team. It will also allow young athletes from across the continent to test their abilities, gain experience and build connections with their counterparts from other countries.
“This championship is more than a competition. It is also about creating opportunities for Asia’s young athletes to showcase their talent, build friendships, and dream bigger. As the host nation, we look forward to welcoming our Asian neighbors with warm Filipino hospitality and reaffirming our commitment to developing the next generation of sepaktakraw champions,” Tanchanco-Caballero said.