Medicine Hat hosts national Sepak Takraw championship for first time
Eight teams will play 31 matches at the Big Marble Go Centre as Medicine Hat welcomes the Canadian Open for the first time since the event began in 1999.
The 2026 Canadian Open for Sepak Takraw will be held Saturday, Sept. 5, at the Big Marble Go Centre in Medicine Hat, marking the first time the city has hosted the national championship. Eight teams will compete in 31 matches across two courts from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with free admission and donations accepted at the door.
Two Medicine Hat teams will face two squads from Rosthern, Sask., two from Calgary, one from Edmonton and a combined Saskatchewan-British Columbia team. Sepak Takraw, often called kick volleyball, is played by three-person teams on a badminton-sized court, with players using only their feet, legs, head and body to get a woven ball over the net.
Medicine Hat competitor Knoukham Keomanivong, who helped a local squad win the 2024 national title, will play for the city's B team after Medicine Hat entered two teams this year. He said the extra roster has meant daily practice, and expressed hope the tournament will grow local interest in the sport and showcase Medicine Hat's community to visiting players.
Top finishers at the tournament will be eligible for consideration to represent Team Canada at the 2027 King's Cup Sepak Takraw World Championships in Thailand, pending sponsorship. Organizers noted the sport receives no government funding and depends on volunteers and event sponsorships.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.