Teqball gets its kicks at the Asian Games

News > Sports News

Lebanon's Kamar Dandal controls the ball during the women's singles bronze-medal teqball match against Cambodia's Koemyean Dy at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Myanmar's Khin Hnin Wai plays a return against Indonesia's Sumaya during their women's singles teqball final match at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) — Lebanon's Kamar Dandal controls the ball during the women's singles bronze-medal teqball match against Cambodia's Koemyean Dy at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Audio By Carbonatix

3:46 AM on Sunday, September 20

The Associated Press

NAGOYA, Japan (AP) — You had to move quickly to see teqball, one of the new sports on view at the Asian Games.

Competition wrapped up Sunday in the sport — the official opening day of the games. Several other new sports in the Asian Games also got early start days before the games officially opened on Saturday. This helped accommodate a crowded schedule.

More than 11,-000 athletes from 45 countries and regions will compete in 43 sports before the games close on Oct. 4.

Teqball combines football skills with a soccer-like ball that bounces on a curved table resembling a table tennis table. Teqball was created in 2014 in Hungary.

Teqball resembles, very roughly, the game of sepaktakraw, which is popular in Southeast Asia. In that game, players kick a ball over a net and show off their skills as acrobats.

___

See full AP coverage of Asian sports here