Quimcy Dsouza Misses Teqball Final at Asian Games but Keeps India’s Medal Hopes Alive

Nagoya, September India’s Quimcy Joaquim Dsouza came within one match of reaching the women’s singles teqball final at the 2026 Asian Games, but her impressive campaign suffered a setback in the semifinal as she was defeated by Indonesia’s Ima Sumaya.

The 24-year-old Indian lost the closely contested semifinal 1-2 after making an encouraging start. Dsouza won the opening set 12-7, but Sumaya responded strongly to take the second 12-9 before completing her comeback with a 12-7 victory in the deciding set.

Although the defeat ended Dsouza’s hopes of competing for the gold medal in the singles event, her Asian Games campaign is not over. She will now compete in the bronze-medal contest, keeping open the possibility of securing India’s first Asian Games medal in teqball.

Strong Start Put Dsouza in Control

Dsouza entered the semifinal with considerable momentum after an impressive group-stage campaign.

In her opening Group A match, she faced Japan’s Yuina Sakamoto, who entered the competition as the top seed. Dsouza initially fell behind after losing the first set 10-12, but she fought back strongly and won the next two sets 12-11 and 13-11 to complete a 2-1 comeback victory.

She followed that performance with another convincing win against Cambodia’s Koemyean Dy, defeating her 12-9, 12-7.

Those two victories allowed Dsouza to finish at the top of her group and move directly into the semifinals.

Her run has therefore been significant even before the medal match, particularly because teqball is making its Asian Games debut at Aichi-Nagoya 2026.

Indonesia’s Sumaya Turns the Match Around

The semifinal initially appeared to be moving in Dsouza’s favour.

She controlled the opening set and won 12-7, using accurate placement and attacking shots to put pressure on Sumaya.

The Indonesian player, however, gradually adjusted to Dsouza’s style. Sumaya raised her level in the second set and managed to reverse the momentum, winning 12-9 and forcing the contest into a deciding third set.

Dsouza again made a positive start in the decider, moving into an early lead. But Sumaya produced a decisive response during the latter stages of the set and eventually closed out the match 12-7.

The result sent Sumaya into the final while Dsouza moved into the bronze-medal playoff.

Bronze Medal Still Within Reach

The semifinal defeat does not end Dsouza’s medal opportunity.

She will compete in the women’s singles bronze-medal match on Sunday against Japan’s Yuina Sakamoto. A victory would give Dsouza a place on the Asian Games podium and would mark a landmark achievement for Indian teqball.

The Indian player also has another opportunity in the mixed doubles competition, where she has been competing alongside Mohamed Anas Imran Beg.

That means Dsouza remains involved in two potential bronze-medal contests as the teqball competition reaches its decisive stage.

From Running and Football to Teqball

Dsouza’s journey to the Asian Games is unusual because teqball was not her original sporting discipline.

Before taking up the sport, she had experience in athletics and football, including competition in middle-distance running. She later discovered teqball and gradually shifted her focus toward the emerging football-based discipline.

Her introduction to the sport was reportedly influenced by watching Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho demonstrate teqball skills online.

What began as an unfamiliar sport eventually developed into a serious competitive career for Dsouza.

She has since become one of the Indian players associated with the growth of teqball in the country. Her appearance at the Asian Games represents another step in the sport’s development in India.

Why Teqball Is Different

Teqball combines elements of football with table-based competition.

Players compete around a specially designed curved table and must control and return the ball without using their hands or arms. The game demands precision, balance, coordination and rapid reactions.

Its playing style has similarities with sepak takraw, although the equipment and rules are different.

The sport’s presence at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games is particularly notable because this is its first appearance at the continental multi-sport event. The competition includes singles, doubles and mixed doubles disciplines.

A Significant Moment for Indian Teqball

Regardless of the outcome of the bronze-medal match, Dsouza’s performance has brought considerable attention to a sport that remains relatively unfamiliar to much of the Indian sporting audience.

Her victories over established opponents earlier in the competition demonstrated India’s ability to compete in the new discipline at the Asian Games level.

The semifinal loss also highlighted the competitive nature of the sport. After winning the opening set, Dsouza could not maintain her advantage against Sumaya, who changed the momentum and secured the deciding game.

For Indian teqball, however, the campaign continues.

Focus Now Shifts to the Medal Match

Dsouza will now have to recover quickly and prepare for another demanding contest.

Her previous victory over Sakamoto in the group stage gives the upcoming bronze-medal match an additional layer of interest. However, the Japanese player will enter the contest with her own experience and determination after reaching the later stages of the tournament.

For Dsouza, the objective is straightforward: convert her strong Asian Games run into a medal.

The semifinal defeat has closed one route to the podium’s top position, but it has not ended India’s opportunity to make history in teqball. With the bronze-medal contest still ahead, Dsouza remains one of the Indian athletes at the centre of attention as the sport makes its debut at the Asian Games.