ASIAN Geographic

Long before the modern game of football was established, ball games that echoed the sport existed in a variety of eras and regions around the world. One forefather of football comes from ancient Greece and is known as episkyros. Another variant called calcio fiorentino was played in Italy during the Middle Ages. And in China, the world’s earliest recorded form of football is known as cuju. This variation of football influenced the development of kemari, one of Japan’s earliest forms of the sport. CUJU History Originating in China, the first historical references of cuju date back to the Warring States period (475–221 BCE), where the game is mentioned in the Strategies of the Warring States and the Records of the Grand Historian – two major texts covering ancient Chinese history. During the Han…

Who would have thought of making use of football to contribute to the preservation of wildlife? But this is exactly what a group of Cameroon youths from the Korup Rainforest Conservation Society (KRCS) is doing. Hinging on the concept of community-based conservation (CBC), various environmental, non-profit organisations (including KRCS) have sprung up across Africa. CBC is based on the idea that conservation and development goals can and should be worked on in tandem, so that the interests of both can be served. This is helpful as communities start to see conservation and the environment as an integral and inherent part of their lives, which motivates them to contribute to the cause for the betterment of their own futures. Most locals are either unaware of the vulnerability of the environment, or…

Not many things can collectively define Southeast Asian culture. As close as food, festivals, languages, and clothes come, they still vary from region to region. Sepak takraw, however, is uniquely Southeast Asian, and has been bringing communities together over their love for sports for decades. A combination of volleyball and football, sepak takraw is played on both national and international levels. On a national scale, it is known as sepak raga jaring in Malaysia, Brunei, and Singapore; takraw in Thailand; rago in Indonesia; sipa in the Philippines; chinlone in Myanmar, kataw in Laos; and sek dai in Cambodia. THE RULES The regu type of sepak takraw features two teams with three players on each side. The game is played on a court similar to that of badminton, with a net dividing the court…

DRIBBLING ACROSS ASIA Football is the world’s most popular and globalised sport, with an estimated following of some four billion fans nestled in every corner of the globe, including Asia. The origins of football in Asia date back centuries, with cuju and kemari being two ancient Asian games that resemble modern football. Cuju is the earliest known form of football, and dates as far back as the Warring States period (475–221 BCE). Kemari began during the Asuka period (around the 6th to 8th century CE) and was played within the Japanese imperial court in Kyoto from around the 7th century. Modern football began to grow in popularity in Asia around the late 19th century, following its introduction to the region by Europeans. For instance, football was introduced to Iran as early as…

Football can be a demanding obligation to sign up for as a youth who is still undergoing schooling. Given that their schedules are usually chock-full with other activities, from academic commitments to other co-curricular activities (CCAs) to recreational pastimes, youths participating in competitive football often end up juggling an increased number of responsibilities. Nevertheless, this has not seemed to deter many youths in Asia from taking up the sport despite the multiple expectations that come with doing so. The numerous benefits that the youth can gain from regularly playing team sports such as football have been widely acknowledged. Physical benefits that come with playing sports in general include improved fitness, coordination, stamina and cardiorespiratory health. Team sports can also contribute greatly to a child’s mental and emotional development as they are exposed…

In 2020, the Football Association (FA) reported a 54-percent increase in its women’s teams since 2017, reaching the organisation’s target to double its female participation in three years. Over the years, sports has grown increasingly gender inclusive, allowing football to become one of the most attractive options for women seeking to play sports professionally. Asia has been no exception to this trend, and has even played a pioneering role in the development of women’s football competitions. During the 1970s, women’s football saw a significant rise in the number of female clubs and teams globally, which contributed to the Asian Federation Confederation (AFC) hosting its first Women’s Asian Cup in 1975. Other major Asian sports competitions such as the Asian Games and the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games soon followed suit, incorporating women’s football…