Story perspectives

Thai Men Win Three Teqball Titles at Asian Games

By Drooid · Sep 20, 2026, 2:39 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Thai Athletes Dominate

The International Teqball Federation awarded its first Asian Games medals on Sept 20, 2026.
Thai athletes secured three of the five teqball titles at the Nagoya debut.
Myanmar’s Khin Hnin Wai won the inaugural women’s singles gold, defeating Indonesia’s Sumaya 2-1.
South Korea’s Lee Jun-suk captured men’s singles gold after beating Iraq’s opponent.

Summary

Lee Quits Contract

Lee Jun-suk quit his permanent LG Electronics contract to self-fund a training stint in Hungary.
Because the Korea Teqball Association lacks KOC membership, the team could not use Jincheon National Training Center.
The squad rented private practice space and bought its own meals after the organizing committee’s lunches proved insufficient.
Lee’s gold earned him 10 pension points, requiring another gold for a monthly stipend.

History

Historical Context

When Taekwondo debuted as an official medal sport at the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima, South Korea seized seven gold medals, cementing its dominance. The International Taekwondo Federation, backed by the Korean Sports Council, allocated ¥1.2 billion to develop training centers across Seoul and Busan. Similarly, the 2026 Asian Games introduced Teqball, where the Teqball Federation awarded five medals, yet Korean star Lee Jun-suk self-funded Hungarian training after leaving LG. The pattern underscores how nascent Asian Games sports still rely on individual athletes’ sacrifices, prompting federations to reconsider funding models for future editions.

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Thai Athletes Dominate

The International Teqball Federation awarded its first Asian Games medals on Sept 20, 2026.
Thai athletes secured three of the five teqball titles at the Nagoya debut.
Myanmar’s Khin Hnin Wai won the inaugural women’s singles gold, defeating Indonesia’s Sumaya 2-1.
South Korea’s Lee Jun-suk captured men’s singles gold after beating Iraq’s opponent.

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