Thailand has asserted its dominance in the emerging sport of teqball, securing a remarkable three gold medals on its debut at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The nation’s athletes showcased exceptional skill and precision, winning every teqball event they entered, solidifying their reputation as a global powerhouse in the sport.
Historic Teqball Golds for Thailand
The Thai contingent’s medal charge was spearheaded by the dynamic duo of Suphawadi Wongkhamchan and Phakpong Dejcharoen. They clinched the inaugural Asian Games teqball gold medal for Thailand in the highly competitive mixed doubles category. Building on their success as runners-up at the previous year’s world championships in Romania, Suphawadi and Phakpong delivered a commanding performance against Japan’s Yuina Sakamoto and Akinori Wase, securing a decisive 2-0 victory with set scores of 12-4 and 12-5.
Suphawadi Wongkhamchan continued her impressive run, appearing in her second final of the day. This time, partnering with Jutatip Kuntatong, the reigning women’s doubles world champions, they faced Myanmar’s Hsu Mon Aung and Phyu Phyu Than. The Thai pair demonstrated their superior skill, overwhelming their opponents with a swift 2-0 win, marked by set scores of 12-6 and 12-3, earning Thailand its second gold medal.
Completing Thailand’s clean sweep in teqball, Sorrasak Thaosiri and Jirati Chanliang secured the third gold medal. They faced a formidable challenge from Lebanon’s Ahmad Kassem Arabi and Mohamad Hafez but ultimately triumphed in another dominant two-set victory, with scores of 12-7 and 12-4. This remarkable achievement underscores Thailand’s exceptional talent and strategic prowess in teqball.
Understanding Teqball
Teqball, a sport that ingeniously blends elements of football and table tennis, was invented approximately 14 years ago in Hungary. It is played on a curved table, requiring athletes to use any part of their body except their hands and arms to strike a ball over the net. The sport draws inspiration from various ball sports, including the Southeast Asian traditional sport of sepak takraw, demanding agility, coordination, and tactical acumen from its players. The finals on Sunday were notably observed by football legend Carles Puyol, adding a touch of international star power to the event.
Women’s Volleyball Team Advances to Semis
In other sporting news, the Thai women’s national volleyball team is set to compete in the semi-finals of the Asian Games, facing the formidable defending champions, China. This highly anticipated match follows the Thai team’s convincing quarter-final victory over Indonesia with a 3-0 scoreline (25-10, 29-27, 25-16). China also advanced smoothly, defeating Vietnam 3-0 (25-16, 25-16, 25-11).
This semi-final clash represents a rematch of the recent AVC Women’s Continental Championship final held in Tianjin, where Thailand emerged victorious against China in a thrilling 3-2 contest. The other semi-final will see South Korea, who defeated Kazakhstan 3-0 (26-24, 27-25, 25-21), face the winner of the quarter-final match between host nation Japan and Taiwan. While Thailand has a strong history in Asian volleyball, having won four continental championships, an Asian Games gold medal remains an elusive achievement. Their previous performances include a bronze in 2014, a silver in 2018, and another bronze in 2021.
Cycling Team Shows ASEAN Prowess
Thailand’s cycling contingent has also made a strong impression at the Games, particularly in the individual time trial events. Athit Poulard secured sixth place in the men’s individual time trial, while Phetdarin Somrat finished eighth in the women’s event. Both athletes achieved the highest rankings among Southeast Asian (ASEAN) competitors, signaling the growing strength of cycling in the region.
Athit completed the 32km men’s course in 43 minutes and 55.98 seconds, finishing behind the gold medalist Alexey Lutsenko of Kazakhstan. Phetdarin’s performance in the 24km women’s time trial was equally impressive, clocking in at 39 minutes and 50.48 seconds. She finished comfortably ahead of Agustina Delia Priatni of Indonesia, the current SEA Games champion, highlighting her regional superiority.
Gen Decha Hemakasri, president of the Thailand Cycling Association, lauded the riders’ dedication. He noted Athit’s courageous effort despite battling intestinal issues that required medical treatment prior to the Games. Phetdarin’s ride was described as an “excellent performance,” with both athletes being recognized as the “best in Asean.” Looking ahead, Athit is preparing for the UCI Road World Championships in Canada, joined by teammates Judah Thompson and Chanpeng Nontasin.
Sepak Takraw Teams Off to a Winning Start
The national sepak takraw teams have also commenced their Asian Games campaigns on a positive note. Both the men’s and women’s regu teams recorded victories in their opening group stage matches on Sunday. The men’s team secured a 3-0 win against South Korea in their Group A fixture, while the women’s team achieved a similar 3-0 triumph over Japan in their respective Group A match. These early successes set a strong foundation for their aspirations in the tournament.
