India Faces Early Exit in Teqball at Asian Games 2026

Disappointing Start for India in Teqball

India's journey in teqball at the 2026 Asian Games began on a disappointing note as the duo of Declan Gonsalves and Mohamed Beg was eliminated in the group stage of the men's doubles competition, missing out on a chance to advance to the quarterfinals. Teqball, a sport that merges aspects of football and table tennis, is played on a uniquely curved table, allowing players to strike the ball using any body part except their arms and hands. The game can be contested in both singles and doubles formats.

In their opening match, Gonsalves and Beg faced a tough challenge against South Korea's Junsuk Lee and Taebin Le, losing 4-12 in the first game and 7-12 in the second, resulting in a 0-2 defeat and placing them at the bottom of Group B, according to ESPN.

Earlier, they also competed against the Vietnamese team of Truong Giang Ba and Anh Khoa Le, where they lost 10-12 and 8-12, despite being tied at 10-10 in the first game. This marks the end of Declan's participation in the Asian Games, while Mohamed is set to compete in the mixed doubles teqball event, which will commence with qualification rounds at 9 AM IST on Thursday.

Background and Achievements

Both Gonsalves and Beg are recognized World Championships medallists, having brought home India's first-ever medal in teqball—a bronze in men's doubles at the 2024 World Championships held in Vietnam.

India aims to surpass its performance from the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games, where the country secured a total of 107 medals, including 28 gold, 38 silver, and 41 bronze.

Indian Teqball Team at Asian Games 2026

- Mohamed Anas Imran Beg (men's doubles, mixed doubles)

- Declan Marshall Gonsalves (men's doubles)

- Quimcy Dsouza (women's singles, mixed doubles)