Quimcy Dsouza remains in two-event medal hunt for India in teqball at Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games

Quimcy Joaquim Dsouza kept herself in contention for medals in both the women's singles and mixed doubles teqball events at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on September 18, 2026, advancing to the women's singles semifinals and winning a mixed doubles repechage tie. The 24-year-old, making her Asian Games debut, progressed through Group A to reach the last four in singles while also surviving the mixed doubles repechage with partner Mohammed Anas Imran Beg.

Dsouza opened her singles campaign by defeating top seed Yuina Sakamoto of Japan 2-1 (10-12, 12-11, 13-11) in a 43-minute Group A match at the Nagoya City Higashi Sports Center, then followed with a 2-0 (12-9, 12-7) victory over Cambodia's Koemyean DY in 24 minutes to finish atop the group. That group-topping performance gave her direct passage to the semifinals, and she received a bye in the quarterfinals. She will face Indonesia's Sumaya in the semifinal on Saturday; a win there would secure at least a silver medal while a loss would leave her the chance to contest bronze on Sunday.

The mixed doubles campaign with Mohammed Anas Imran Beg saw the pair reach the quarterfinals before losing 0-2 (7-12, 10-12) to Vietnam's Hoang Minh Tan Nguyen and Gia Nghi Trinh. That defeat pushed them into the repechage pathway rather than direct elimination.

In the repechage, the Indian duo recovered by beating Philippines pair Jhoana Abulencia and Prince Augustin 2-0 (12-3, 12-6) to keep their medal hopes alive. Earlier in the tournament the Indians had also defeated the same Filipino pairing 2-0 (12-10, 12-3) in the group stage.

During group play the mixed doubles team had posted a 2-0 (12-1, 12-6) win over Kuwait's Salman Alebraheem and Hessah Alfailakawi but suffered losses to sides from Cambodia and Thailand, results that left them navigating the repechage route to remain in contention. The mixed doubles medal rounds are scheduled for Sunday.

Teqball is one of six sports making their debut at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, alongside mixed martial arts, padel, surfing, BMX freestyle and virtual taekwondo. Invented in Hungary in 2014, teqball combines elements of football and table tennis and is played on a curved table divided by a transparent net; players return a standard size five football using any body part except hands and arms.

With Dsouza still active in both events, India retains the possibility of an immediate podium presence in a sport appearing at the continental Games for the first time; her singles semifinal is set for Saturday and the mixed doubles medal rounds will take place on Sunday.