Quimcy Dsouza Misses Two Bronze Medals As India Suffer Double Heartbreak In Teqball

India’s Quimcy Dsouza endured a heartbreaking end to her Asian Games teqball campaign on Sunday, narrowly missing out on two bronze medals in a matter of minutes after producing a spirited fight in the women’s singles and mixed doubles events.

Quimcy came agonisingly close to beating Japan’s world No. 7 Yuina Sakamoto in the singles bronze-medal match, losing 0-2 (11-12, 11-12) in a contest that was far closer than the straight-game scoreline suggested.

Playing before a partisan home crowd, Quimcy fought back repeatedly and had a set point in the opening game. She then surged to an 10-8 lead in the second, putting herself within touching distance of forcing a decider.

The Indian also saved a match point and produced a winner, but a foul at a crucial moment handed Sakamoto the match and left Quimcy just short of a medal.

There was little time to recover from the disappointment. Minutes later, Quimcy returned to the court alongside Mohamed Anas Beg for the mixed doubles bronze-medal contest against Vietnam’s Hoang Minh Tan Nguyen and Gia Ngih Trinh.

The demanding schedule soon began to take its toll. With the Indian pair trailing 5-9 in the second game, Quimcy appeared to be struggling physically. Her lower back was massaged before she took a 10-minute medical timeout.

She returned with her waist strapped but could not regain her earlier momentum. The Indian pair eventually lost 0-2 (9-12, 6-12), ending Quimcy’s medal hopes in both events.

Despite the double disappointment, India’s deep run represents a significant step in a sport that is still relatively new in the country. Teqball combines elements of football and table tennis, with players using a curved table to exchange a football without using their hands or arms.

Players can use other parts of the body and are allowed a maximum of three touches to return the ball. A set is normally won by the first player or pair to reach 12 points, while a deciding third set requires a two-point margin.

Teqball made its Asian Games debut at the Aichi-Nagoya edition, giving India an opportunity to establish itself in the emerging sport on the continental stage.