Innholdsfortegnelse for 3/2022 i ASIAN Geographic

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…

Over the years, Asia has produced several successful football leagues, teams and players who have risen to international fame. Join us as we explore some of Asia’s most iconic organisations and individuals in the world of football. ASIA’S BIGGEST FOOTBALL LEAGUES SAUDI PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE Saudi Arabia (1976) Currently the most successful league in the Arab region, the Saudi Professional League officially became a professional league in 2007. In April 2022, it was announced that the league is planning to add two more clubs to its top tier from the 2023–24 season, which will bring the league’s total number of clubs to 18. J.LEAGUE Japan (1992) The first J.League match in history occurred in May 1993, drawing a crowd of almost 60,000. The professional football league includes the first division J1…

As part of its Perpetual Planet initiative, Rolex has supported the Xunaan-Ha Expedition in its goals to explore cave systems and find sources of contaminated water in Yucatán’s giant aquifer. In November 2021, a team of professional divers led by one of the world’s most experienced underwater explorers, Robbie Schmittner, completed an expedition into the sinkholes of the Yucatán Peninsula to chart the cave systems and sample water quality. Support for this project through the Rolex Perpetual Planet initiative underlines the brand’s commitment to future generations, by championing individuals and organisations in science-led efforts to preserve the natural world and its life-sustaining systems. Schmittner has spent over 20 years in the region exploring the Yucatán’s labyrinthine cave systems and studying the drainage system across the peninsula, which has no rivers…

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…

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…

The overwhelming ubiquity and success of football has spawned several small-sided variations of the sport under the umbrella term “minifootball”. Among the most recognisable of these is futsal. While it may not be as popular and iconic as football, futsal remains a well-known sport that continues to be enjoyed across Asia. HISTORY In 1930, school teacher Juan Carlos Ceriani devised an adaptation of football to be played at Young Men’s Christian Associations (YMCAs) for recreational purposes. He later wrote the first rule book for the game in 1933. The game, which came to be called futsal, was originally designed to be played indoors and on basketball courts. Futsal quickly grew in popularity and rapidly spread across South America. Futsal is credited with helping to develop the foundational skills of many…

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…

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…

Walking along the route towards the Payatas Sports Center, one can expect to see piles of garbage flanking the streets – a sight that the inhabitants of Payatas, which was once home to the Philippines’ largest open dumpsite, are no strangers to. Dump trucks dot the landfill sites, while workers and scavengers go about their day’s work amongst the mounds of rubbish. In the sports center, however, the quotidian sights of Payatas’ environment seem to melt away. The joyous shouts and laughter of children ring out through the open sports area, filling the air with a high-spirited energy. Their coaches – former scholars and graduates of the Fairplay For All Foundation – join in the fun, augmenting the warm and friendly atmosphere. This welcoming environment is the heart of the…

MACHBOOS Machboos (often called kabsa) is the national dish of Qatar and commonly regarded as the country’s most beloved dish. Occupying a special place in the hearts of Qataris, machboos is easy to find in any part of the emirate. The spiced rice dish, which is not dissimilar to biryani, is prepared by marinating any kind of meat – chicken, beef, lamb, fish, or even camel. Thanks to it being slow-cooked, machboos is full of flavour and is sure to have you coming back for seconds. You can expect different variations of the dish at different restaurants as each of them has its own take on this Qatari classic. SALOONA Another famous dish in Qatar that can be easily found in restaurants and on family tables, this meat and vegetable…