Thailand’s teqball team has marked a significant milestone with the sport’s debut at the Asian Games, which commenced this week in Japan. The team’s star player, Jutatip Kuntatong, currently ranked the world’s top female teqball athlete, has been instrumental in showcasing the sport’s appeal. Six years ago, Jutatip had no prior knowledge of teqball, but she has since risen to become a world champion, securing both singles and doubles titles at the most recent championships held in Transylvania in December.

Teqball is a relatively new sport, invented in Hungary in 2014. Its origins trace back to two friends who experimented with playing football on a curved table resembling a ping pong table, eventually formalizing the rules and equipment. The game involves hitting a standard soccer ball using any part of the body except the hands, with players allowed up to three touches before returning the ball over the net. Strict regulations prohibit using the same body part consecutively, making the sport technically demanding and intricate.

The introduction of teqball at the Asian Games marks its continued expansion on the international stage, following previous appearances at the European and African Games. Sixteen nations are now competing in teqball events, reflecting growing global interest, with hopes that the sport will feature in the Olympic Games by 2032.

Thailand is widely regarded as a dominant force in teqball, boasting one of the strongest national teams among the sport’s 147 federations worldwide. The country’s success is often linked to its deep roots in sepak takraw, a traditional Southeast Asian sport that shares many similarities with teqball. Both games emphasize footwork, acrobatic kicks, and the prohibition of using hands, relying heavily on leg strength and precise ball control.

Piyapat Jarunpong, secretary general of the Teqball Association of Thailand, noted that although teqball was initially introduced as a hybrid of football and table tennis, Thai players tend to view it as closer in skill and style to sepak takraw. This connection has influenced Thailand’s strategy of recruiting and training athletes with a background in sepak takraw for teqball competitions.

Somsak “Joe” Duangmuang, coach of the Thai national teqball team and a former national sepak takraw player with over two decades of coaching experience, has played a key role in this transition. The Thai association views the Asian Games not only as a competitive platform but also as a chance to raise awareness about teqball in the region and attract new young players to the sport.

With teqball’s profile increasing globally and Thailand leading the charge in Asia, the sport appears poised for significant growth in the coming years. “It’s quite a big step forward,” Piyapat said, describing the sport’s inclusion at the Asian Games as a “huge leap” for teqball’s development.