Cambodias Withdrawal from SEA Games Leads to Sepak Takraw Ban at 2026 Asian Games Other Sports May Face Sanctions

Cambodia's withdrawal from the SEA Games has caused its sepak takraw team to be banned from the 2026 Asian Games; other sports may face sanctions as well.

On 28 November 2025 GMT+7, Associate Professor Pimol Srivikorn, president of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand under Royal Patronage and chairman of the SEA Games council, chaired a meeting of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand. Present were Dato' Seri Chaipak Siriwat, vice president of the National Olympic Committee and CEO of the SEA Games Federation; Mr. Thana Chaiprasit, secretary-general of the National Olympic Committee; and the head of Thailand's 33rd SEA Games athletes. The meeting was held in Meeting Room 1 of the National Olympic Committee, with committee members, representatives from the Sports Authority of Thailand, and Thai sports associations attending.

Dato' Seri Chaipak said he remains confident that the SEA Games will succeed despite the many urgent issues, especially Cambodia's sudden withdrawal from nine sports, which has impacted the competition's organization. He noted that penalties, either financial or otherwise, would be considered, particularly concerning sepak takraw.

Recently, the World and Asian Sepak Takraw Federations announced they would punish Cambodia by banning it from the 2026 Asian Games in Japan next year. Sanctions for other sports depend on their respective federations' decisions, as Cambodia violated rules by withdrawing after submitting athlete entries. The remaining 12 sports confirmed there would be no further withdrawals.

The nine sports from which Cambodia withdrew at the 2025 SEA Games are judo, karate, pencak silat, pétanque, wrestling, wushu, football, sepak takraw, and volleyball.

*Image courtesy of Khmer Times