Teqball awards first Asian Games medals in Nagoya debut

Teqball, a hybrid sport combining soccer and table tennis, awarded its first Asian Games medals on Sunday, September 20, 2026, in Nagoya, Japan, marking a significant milestone in its push for Olympic recognition. Thailand dominated the competition, winning three of the five available titles, while medalists also came from countries including Kuwait, Japan, South Korea, and Iraq. The sport made its debut as a medal event at the multisport gathering, with competition held at the Higashi Sports Centre. The venue, with capacity for only a few hundred fans, saw athletes skillfully volleying a soccer-like ball across a curved table. The International Teqball Federation (ITF) views the Asian Games debut as a crucial step toward its long-term goal of Olympic inclusion. "It's an amazing milestone on our journey because the teq world community globally is dreaming of becoming an Olympic sport one day," ITF general secretary Laszlo Vajda said at the venue. He expressed confidence that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) would recognize the sport's readiness for the Olympic programme based on its debut.