4 Unique, Traditional Sports In The SEA Games That Aren't In The Olympics

Below is a quick rundown of traditional sports played at the 29th SEA Games.

Sepak Takraw is a highly intense air battle game, where players use their feet, knees, chest and head to defy gravity. Sepak Takraw players, however, cannot use their hands.

Originated in Malaysia, Sepak Takraw is played in a court measuring 13.4 m x 6.1 m. This spectacular Southeast Asian game still remains out of the Olympic sports.

First introduced in the 2013 SEA Games by its origin country, Myanmar, Chinlone, as this BBC article describes, "is a combination of sport and dance, with a circle of six players attempting to keep the ball in the air while executing - as elegantly as possible - some complex moves."

Chinlone bears striking similarities between Sepak Takraw and that's why is listed inside the Separk Takraw category in the KL SEA Games 2017.

In this non-Olympic sport at the 29th SEA Games Malaysia won its first gold medal after defeating the Philippines at the Titiwangsa Indoor Stadium.

Another traditional Southeast Asian sport that's making the 29th SEA Games richer is the traditional Indonesian Pencak Silat, a non-aggressive form of martial arts.

This combative form of the Malay fighting arts employs natural body movements and can be practised purely for sport and fitness, for the aesthetic beauty of the art.

Developed in China, Wushu is part of the several martial arts that are contested at the SEA Games. While competitive wushu is composed of two disciplines, which are Taolu and Sanda, at the 29th SEA Games only the Taolu events are being allowed.

Wushu, which literally translates to "art of martial", is while a non-Olympic sport, it is recognised by the International Olympic Committee.