Asian Games 2026: Quimcy Dsouza one win from Teqball medal, reaches SF
Synopsis
India's Quimcy Joaquim Dsouza is one win away from making Asian Games history — her direct semifinal qualification in Teqball Women's Singles at Nagoya could deliver India's first-ever medal in the sport at the continental Games, with the mixed doubles pair also still in contention.
Key Takeaways
Quimcy Joaquim Dsouza beat Cambodia's Koemyean DY 12–9, 12–7 to qualify directly for the Teqball Women's Singles semifinals at Asian Games 2026 .
She will face Ima Sumaya of Indonesia in the semifinals — a win guarantees India's first-ever Teqball medal at the Asian Games.
Dsouza also opened her Mixed Doubles campaign alongside Mohamed Anas Imran Beg , defeating the Philippines pair in their opener.
The men's doubles pair of Declan Marshall Gonsalves and Mohamed Anas Imran Beg — 2024 World Championships bronze medallists — lost both group games 2–0 against Vietnam and South Korea.
Teqball is making its Asian Games debut at Aichi-Nagoya 2026, with five medal events across singles, doubles, and mixed formats.
Indian debutante Quimcy Joaquim Dsouza moved to within one victory of a historic medal at the Asian Games 2026, advancing directly to the semifinals of the Teqball Women's Singles event after a commanding 2–0 victory over Cambodia's Koemyean DY in Group A at the Nagoya City Higashi Sports Center on 18 September 2026. The win marks a landmark moment for India as Teqball makes its Asian Games debut at Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
How Quimcy Secured Her Semifinal Berth
Dsouza registered a 12–9, 12–7 win over Koemyean DY, building on her gritty group opener where she overcame Japan's Yuina Sakamoto in a hard-fought 10–11, 12–11, 13–11 thriller. The back-to-back victories were enough to secure direct qualification to the semifinals — the fastest possible route through the group stage.
Her next opponent in the last four will be Ima Sumaya of Indonesia. A victory there will guarantee Quimcy Dsouza at least a bronze medal — India's first-ever Teqball medal at the Asian Games.
Mixed Doubles Campaign Also Underway
Dsouza has also linked up with Mohamed Anas Imran Beg in the Mixed Doubles event, and the Indian pair made an impressive start by defeating the Philippines' duo of Jhoana Abulencia and Prince Agustin in their Group A opener.
The pair's remaining group schedule is packed: they face the Cambodian pairing of Bun Thuonvireak and Yorn Sophornraksmey, followed by Thailand's Dejaron Phakpong and Wongkhamchan Suphawadi, before closing out the group stage against Kuwait's Alebraheen Salman and Alfailakaw Hessah.
Men's Doubles Pair Exit Group Stage Without a Win
India's men's doubles pair of Declan Marshall Gonsalves and Mohamed Anas Imran Beg — the country's first athletes in action at the Games — were unable to replicate their World Championships form in the group stage. The duo, who created history by winning India's first-ever Teqball medal — a men's doubles bronze at the 2024 World Championships in Vietnam — suffered back-to-back 2–0 defeats.
They fell first to Vietnam's Truong Giang Ba and Anh Khoa Le, and then to the Republic of Korea's Junsuk Lee and Taebeen Lee, ending their group stage campaign without a point.
What Is Teqball and Why This Debut Matters
Invented in Hungary, Teqball fuses elements of football with a curved table, creating a sport that blends freestyle football and sepak takraw played on a curved table tennis-style surface. Aichi-Nagoya 2026 marks the sport's first appearance at the Asian Games, with five medal events on offer: men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, and mixed doubles.
India's performance — with Dsouza in the women's singles semifinals and the mixed doubles pair still alive in the group stage — signals growing depth in a sport the country only recently began developing at the elite level. The coming hours could deliver India's first Teqball medal at the continental showpiece.
Point of View
Yet she has navigated the group stage without dropping a set in her decisive match. The men's doubles pair — India's most decorated Teqball athletes on paper — exited without a win, underscoring a familiar pattern in Indian sport where individual breakthroughs often outpace team formats at debut events. With the mixed doubles still live, India could yet end the Games with multiple medals in a sport that barely registered on the national radar two years ago. That would be a result worth scrutinising for what it says about India's emerging investment in niche Olympic-pathway sports.
NationPress
18 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Quimcy Dsouza qualified for the Teqball semifinals at Asian Games 2026?
Yes. Quimcy Joaquim Dsouza qualified directly for the Women's Singles semifinals at Asian Games 2026 after winning both her Group A matches at Nagoya City Higashi Sports Center. She will face Indonesia's Ima Sumaya in the last four.
What happens if Quimcy Dsouza wins the semifinal?
A win in the semifinal guarantees Quimcy Dsouza at least a bronze medal, which would be India's first-ever Teqball medal at the Asian Games. She would then advance to the gold-medal final.
How did India's men's doubles team perform at Asian Games 2026 Teqball?
The Indian men's doubles pair of Declan Marshall Gonsalves and Mohamed Anas Imran Beg lost both their group games 2–0, falling to Vietnam and the Republic of Korea. The pair are 2024 World Championships bronze medallists but could not progress from the group stage.
What is Teqball and is this its first Asian Games?
Teqball is a sport invented in Hungary that combines football skills with a curved table, described as a blend of freestyle football and sepak takraw. Yes, Aichi-Nagoya 2026 marks Teqball's debut at the Asian Games, with five medal events on offer.
Who is India fielding in the Teqball Mixed Doubles at Asian Games 2026?
India's Mixed Doubles pair consists of Quimcy Joaquim Dsouza and Mohamed Anas Imran Beg. They won their Group A opener against the Philippines and have three more group matches to play against Cambodia, Thailand, and Kuwait.
