Infostrada Databox: January 2008  

Sepak Takraw

> Sepak Takraw (pictured right courtesy of Getty Images Sport/Ian Walton) is a popular Kick Volleyball sport played in Southeast Asia. Its name derives from Malay and Thai.
> It is believed to have been introduced to Malaysia and Thailand through Chinese trade in the 15th century.
> In Sepak Takraw, teams of three players each aim to outplay the opposition in distributing a rattan or rubber ball.
> The first team to win two sets is declared the winner. The first to 21 wins a set or any number up to 25 if two clear points do not separate the teams.
> The King’s Cup, held annually in Thailand, is considered the sport’s most prestigious event.

World Poker Tour

> The World Poker Tour is a series of international Texas Hold’em tournaments, featuring the world’s best players.
> The Tour was founded in 2002 by television producer Steven Lipscomb, interviewed in this month's S&T.
> Winners of individual events collect player points that count towards a season total, which establishes the champion.
> The most recent winner of Player of The Year honours was J.C. Tran.
> The first ever winner of the Player of The Year was Howard 'The Poker Professor' Lederer in 2002.

Oxford United (Soccer)

> Oxford United (pictured right courtesy of Getty Images Sport/Clive Rose) is an English soccer club, which currently plays in the Conference (Blue Square Premier).
> Recently the club lost 2,0 away at Exeter City (on 20 January 2008). The game was shown live on Setanta Sports. The last time Oxford played Exeter live on television, the Devon outfit put Oxford out of the Conference Play-off finals in 2007 during a thrilling penalty decider.
> The club is nicknamed the 'U’s' or the 'Yellows', the latter referring to the colour of the club's home kit.
> The club was formed in 1893 as amateur club Headington. It was renamed Oxford United in 1960.
> In 1962, the club joined the league. It was promoted to the top tier in 1985. It now plays fifth tier.
> Oxford United won the League Cup in 1986 and would have reached the UEFA Cup, had there not been a ban on English soccer clubs in Europe at the time.
(Note from the Editor: Shame!)

John Part (Darts)

> John Part (pictured right courtesy of Getty Images Sport/Paul Gilham) is a Canadian darts player and the reigning PDC World Champion, having won the first event to be held at new PDC venue Alexandra Palace in North London after defeating the upstart Kirk Shepherd in the final (Note from the Editor: The new venue is a veritable triumph. Loved it!)
> Nicknamed 'The Darth Maple', Part became the first overseas player to win a world darts crown in 1994.
> After several disappointing years, Part joined the rogue federation PDC in 1997, where several of the game’s greats already resided. The PDC is a rival darts code to the BDO which plays its own world championship at Lakeside each year. (Note from the Editor: But everyone knows that the best players play for the PDC).
> After losing the 2001 PDC world title fight to Phil Taylor, Part defeated the near invincible Taylor in the 2003 final.

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