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Recognizing Sepak Takraw of USA, Inc. for winning the gold medal at the 2022 International Sepak Takraw Federation World Cup in South Korea and proclaiming Sunday, January 8, 2023, as Sepak Takraw of USA, Inc. Day in the City of Saint Paul.
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WHEREAS, Sepak Takraw of USA, Inc. was founded in Minnesota on August 1st, 2014, as a non-profit organization to promote the sport of sepak takraw in the United States through organized community leagues and competitions at the local, national, and international levels; and
WHEREAS, sepak takraw was first introduced in Minnesota by the first wave of Hmong immigrants in the early 1980s; and
WHEREAS, Minnesotan sepak takraw players won 1st and 2nd place at Skillcon 2016, which jump kicked widespread interest in the niche sport among many diverse, immigrant communities across the United States; and
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul not only recognized the role of sepak takraw in building cross cultural community and sportsmanship among youth and adults from diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds but were also committed to diversity and equity in its planning and distribution of shared public places and spaces; and
WHEREAS, the Greater East Side of Saint Paul thus welcomed two of the first sepak takraw courts in the country at Marydale Park and the Duluth and Case Recreation Center in Minnesota in 2017; and
WHEREAS, the International Sepak Takraw Federation extended an invitation to Sepak Takraw of USA, Inc. to compete at the 2022 International Sepak Takraw Federation World Cup in Daejeon, South Korea from November 25 - 29, 2022; and
WHEREAS, Sepak Takraw of USA, Inc. recruited Christ Moo, Jim Thao, John Thao, Ker Cha, Oo Reh, and Yan Naing Soe from Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Indiana, and California to form Team USA under the direction of head coach Jeremy Nathan Mirken and team manager Gao Chang; and
WHEREAS, Team USA only spent two days altogether to practice and build camaraderie with one another before traveling to compete in South Korea; and
WHEREAS, Team USA defeated Germany, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Iran to win two gold medals in the Division 1 category of the 3x3 and 4x4 games at the tournament in South Korea; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, the Saint Paul City Council recognizes Sepak Takraw of USA, Inc. for their historic win at the 2022 International Sepak Takraw Federation World Cup; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Saint Paul City Council hereby proclaims Sunday, January 8, 2023 to be Sepak Takraw of USA, Inc. Day in the City of Saint Paul.