Indian teqball player Quimcy Joaquim Dsouza has reached the women’s singles semifinals at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games after winning both her Group A matches on September 18. Dsouza defeated Japan’s Yuina Sakamoto 2-1 after dropping the opening game, before beating Cambodia’s Koemyean Dy 2-0 to finish top of the group and advance directly to the semifinals.
She will face Indonesia’s Ima Sumaya in the last four. With a semifinal place secured, Dsouza is already in the medal rounds. A victory would take her into the final and guarantee at least a silver medal, while the semifinal result will determine whether she competes for gold or bronze. Teqball is making its debut as a medal sport at the Asian Games this year.
What Is Teqball?
Teqball is a football-based sport played on a specially designed curved table. It combines elements of football, table tennis and precision ball control, with players using different parts of the body to return the ball across the net. Hands and arms cannot be used. In singles, a player can use a maximum of three touches before returning the ball, while the same body part cannot be used twice consecutively.
Matches are played as the best of three sets, with the first player to reach 12 points taking a set. The sport was developed in Hungary and has expanded through international competitions under the International Teqball Federation (FITEQ).
From Football To Teqball
Dsouza’s sporting journey has included football before she established herself in teqball. She represented Maharashtra in age-group football and later became involved in the sport after discovering teqball. She is associated with Club Teqball Bangalore and has represented India in international competitions. FITEQ’s player profile lists Dsouza, 24, as an India player and records her as right-footed, with a singles ranking of 24 at the time of the latest available ranking data. Her involvement also extends beyond competition, with her linked to the development of teqball in Bengaluru.
Building An International Record
Dsouza has competed at several World Teqball Championships, gaining experience against players from established teqball nations. FITEQ records show that she competed at the 2023 World Teqball Championships, where she reached the group stage, and at the 2024 edition, where she was listed among the women’s singles competitors. She also progressed to the knockout stage at the 2025 World Championships, advancing from her group alongside France’s Amelie Julian. These appearances have given Dsouza experience on the international circuit ahead of her Asian Games debut.
A Strong Asian Games Start
Dsouza opened her Group A campaign against Japan’s Yuina Sakamoto. After losing the first game 10-12, she responded under pressure to win the second 12-11 and the deciding game 13-11, completing a 2-1 comeback. She followed that performance with a more convincing victory over Cambodia’s Koemyean Dy, winning 12-9 and 12-7. The two victories put her at the top of Group A and secured direct passage to the women’s singles semifinals.
Indian debutant Quimcy Joaquim Dsouza continued her impressive campaign in the Teqball Women’s Singles event, securing a 2–0 victory over Cambodia’s Koemyean DY in Group A, Match 3.
— SAI Media (@Media_SAI) September 18, 2026
Game 1: 12–9
Game 2: 12–7
With this victory, Quimcy has qualified directly for the semifinals of… pic.twitter.com/Ybnr4gq2pu
One Step From Final
Dsouza’s semifinal against Indonesia’s Ima Sumaya will determine her route to the medal match. Her qualification for the last four means the competition has already reached the medal stage. If Dsouza wins the semifinal, she will progress to the final and secure at least a silver medal. If she loses, she will have the opportunity to compete for bronze under the competition’s medal-round structure. Therefore, describing her as being “one win from a medal” would not accurately reflect her current position. She is already in the medal rounds, while one more victory would put her in the gold-medal match.
Teqball Makes Its Debut
Aichi-Nagoya 2026 marks teqball’s first appearance as a medal sport at the Asian Games. FITEQ confirmed in February that the sport had been formally included in the programme, with men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles among the events listed for the competition. India’s teqball contingent includes Dsouza in women’s singles and mixed doubles, while Mohamed Anas Imran Beg and Declan Marshall Gonsalves are competing in the men’s events.
A New Platform For India
Dsouza’s semifinal appearance comes as Indian teqball receives its first opportunity to compete for an Asian Games medal. India has previously featured on the international teqball circuit, including at the World Teqball Championships, but Aichi-Nagoya provides a new continental platform for the sport and its athletes. Dsouza’s comeback against Sakamoto and subsequent straight-games victory over Dy have taken her into the final four, giving her another opportunity to compete on the sport’s biggest Asian stage.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Dsouza’s progress highlights how athletes can create new opportunities in sports that are still developing their audience and competitive structures in India. Teqball’s Asian Games debut gives players such as Dsouza a larger platform while introducing Indian audiences to a discipline built around football skills, precision, movement and concentration.
Her semifinal appearance is already a significant milestone in India’s participation in the new Asian Games event, while the next match will decide whether she advances to the final. As emerging sports receive greater international exposure, could stories like Dsouza’s encourage more young Indians to explore sporting disciplines beyond the traditional choices?
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