One win from history: India’s Quimcy Dsouza storms into Teqball semis at Asian Games

Quimcy Dsouza (ANI Photo)

NEW DELHI: India’s Quimcy Joaquim Dsouza produced a stunning comeback against Japan’s top-seeded Yuina Sakamoto before following it up with another convincing victory to march into the women’s singles semifinals in Teqball at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Friday.Making her Asian Games debut in a sport appearing at the continental Games for the first time, the Indian showed remarkable composure under pressure at the Nagoya City Higashi Sports Center. She recovered from losing the opening game against Sakamoto to prevail 2-1 in a hard-fought contest.Dsouza lost the first game 10-12 but responded brilliantly, edging the Japanese player 12-11 in the second before sealing the match 13-11 in the decider.She then carried that momentum into her second group match, defeating Cambodia’s Koemyean DY 2-0. Dsouza won the opening game 12-9 before closing out the contest 12-7 to finish top of her group and earn a direct berth in the semifinals.ALSO READ:Five little-known sports India will compete in at Asian Games 2026

One win away from historic medal

The result puts Dsouza just one victory away from securing a historic medal for India in Teqball.She will face Indonesia’s Ima Sumaya in Saturday’s semifinal. A victory would guarantee Dsouza a place on the podium, while a defeat would give her another opportunity in the bronze-medal match against the loser of the other semifinal between Myanmar’s Wai Khin Hin and Lebanon’s Kamar Dandal.For Dsouza, the achievement is particularly significant as Teqball makes its Asian Games debut at Aichi-Nagoya 2026. The sport, which originated in Hungary, combines elements of football with a curved table and is played in singles, doubles and mixed doubles.

Mixed doubles challenge awaits

Dsouza’s busy day also included the mixed doubles event, where she partnered Mohamed Anas Imran Beg. The Indian pair began their campaign with a win over the Philippines’ Jhoana Abulencia and Prince Agustin.They were scheduled to face Cambodia, Thailand and Kuwait in the remainder of their group-stage campaign.India’s other Teqball representatives, Beg and Declan Marshall Gonsalves, had earlier endured a difficult start in the men’s doubles, losing both their group matches. The duo, however, had already made history by winning India’s first-ever Teqball medal — a men’s doubles bronze at the 2024 World Championships.