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Teqball’s Historic Debut at the Asian Games
By Drooid · · How we work
Teqball Makes Its Asian Games Debut
The Asian Games opened with a rapid-start schedule that included teqball, the football-table-tennis hybrid created in 2014 in Hungary. Competition concluded on the Games’ opening day, allowing the sport to fit into a program that will feature more than 11,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions across 43 sports before the event closes in early October, the Associated Press reported.
Rapid Rise Since Inception
Invented by two friends in a Hungarian garage, teqball first appeared at the 2023 European Games and has since expanded to 147 national federations worldwide, according to László Vajda, secretary general of the International Teqball Federation. The sport’s governing bodies are targeting Olympic inclusion by 2032, and the Asian Games marks its first appearance alongside other new events such as padel and virtual taekwondo.
First Medalists and a Diverse Field
Myanmar’s Wai Khin Hnin captured the inaugural women’s singles gold, defeating Indonesia’s Sumaya 2-1 after a comeback win of 10-12, 12-8, 12-9, as reported by The Japan Times. In the men’s competition, a youthful Philippine trio—including 14-year-old Prince Agustin—contended for bronze, while Japan’s Takahiro Nodomi, a 40-year-old comedian-turned-athlete, highlighted the sport’s appeal to older competitors. Indonesia’s 44-year-old Husni Uba, a veteran of sepak takraw, also took part, underscoring teqball’s link to the traditional Southeast Asian game.
Official Perspectives & Responses
László Vajda emphasized the sport’s technical depth, noting the rule that forbids consecutive use of the same body part makes each rally “very intricate.” Thailand’s Teqball Association, represented by Major General Piyapat Jarunpong, described the inclusion as “a huge leap” for regional exposure. Coach Somsak Duangmuang, a former sepak takraw coach, said the discipline offers “a new challenge” and expands training opportunities for athletes accustomed to foot-volley skills.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It feels like a dream because everything happened so fast,” — Jutatip
- “It’s quite exciting for me, that I see an opportunity to bring a new challenge to our athletes. It’s expanded a new area of training with the skills that we have,” — Somsak
- “It’s quite a big step forward. It’s a huge leap, to be honest.” — Piyapat