Crucial day for sep kings

Preliminary group matches continued this morning in the men's doubles sepaktakraw competition at Al-Sadd Indoor Hall as teams started a day long series of matches that will see the top two teams in the two groups qualifying for the semifinals.

Myanmar have leapt to the top of group A after securing a 2-0 (21-19, 23-21) victory over Indonesia - who are also contending for top spot and a place in the last four of the competition. The match was a closely contested affair, however, and only four points separated the teams in the overall match.

Matches later today will see Myanmar play their final group match against IR Iran while Indonesia take on Japan, who have two games remaining and could still find themselves in the semifinals if they can beat Indonesia.

"It was a very difficult match," said Myanmar coach Moe Kyaw Zin after his team's encounter with Indonesia. "Indonesia played at a very high level. As I said before, at this level of competition, a few mistakes will decide the match. That's what happened today.

"Our next match is against IR Iran. That should be a 100 percent certain victory and that will put us in the semifinals. We did very well in the doubles event at the 2005 SEA Games and our aim is to go for the gold here."

Meanwhile, in group B, Malaysia maintained their chances of a place in the semifinals after a hard fought 2-1 (21-14, 14-21, 15-11) victory over Korea.

Mohd Saiful Nizam Mohd and Mohamed Saufi Salleh were pushed all the way by Lee Gyu Nam and Hwang Yong Kwan, but held out to take the crucial points when they mattered to leave the unlucky Korean's with three 2-1 defeats and no points so far in the competition.

Thailand continued their unbeaten run in the group to virtually qualify for the last four after a comfortable 2-0 (21-11, 21-12) victory over India. The Thais now lead group B with six points ahead of Malaysia on four points and the Philippines, also with four points.

The Philippine team have two matches remaining today against Malaysia and Thailand, so will have a great say in the way the group finishes and which teams progress through to the knock out stages.