The Challenger Teqball League continued its 2026 season with the third stage held between 12–14 March in Calheta, Madeira (Portugal), where the Arco da Calheta Municipal Pavilion hosted a three-day competition featuring 43 athletes from 14 countries. The event included matches in Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles, once again confirming the growing international interest in the CTL series.

 

The tournament brought together several of the sport’s top athletes, including world champions such as Kinga Barabasi (ROU), Apor Gyorgydeak (ROU) and Nikola Mitro (SRB), ensuring a very high competitive level throughout the event. Alongside the sporting battles, the local organisers placed strong emphasis on the community aspect of Teqball, creating opportunities for athletes to experience the culture, gastronomy and hospitality of Madeira while also connecting with the local population.

 

Strong organisation and focus on development

The event stood out not only for the quality of play but also for its organisational standards and development initiatives. In addition to experienced international referees — Telmo Monteiro (POR), Ana Marques (POR), Goncalo Pina (POR) and Luis Peralta (POR) — six local referees also took part after completing a referee education program organised in cooperation with the Refereeing Council of the Madeira Football Association.

This initiative aimed to build a sustainable foundation for the long-term growth of Teqball in the region.

The Challenger Teqball League format once again proved its value, as it continues to provide opportunities for both experienced and new athletes. In Madeira, several players competed in an international Teqball event for the first time, while others reached their first quarterfinals, semifinals or finals in the series — a key factor in motivating athletes and supporting the global expansion of the sport.

 

Finals deliver high-quality matches in all three categories

The final day of the tournament produced strong performances in all three categories, with close matches and great rallies deciding the titles in Madeira.

Men’s Doubles:
The men’s doubles final featured a top-level clash between Apor Gyorgydeak (ROU) / Marek Pokwap (POL) and the strong pairing of Nikola Mitro (SRB) / Stefan Orlowski (POL), who also showed excellent form throughout the tournament.

The match was played at a high intensity, with long rallies and quality points on both sides, but thanks to their experience and strong understanding on the table, Gyorgydeak and Pokwap managed the key moments better and secured the title.

Mixed Doubles:
The mixed doubles final saw two teams from Gobek Teqball Team facing each other in one of the most exciting matches of the weekend.

Kinga Barabasi (ROU) / Apor Gyorgydeak (ROU) played against Krisztina Acs (HUN) / Marek Pokwap (POL) in a balanced final with several great rallies and momentum changes during the match.

After a very close battle, the title was decided in the third set, where Barabasi and Gyorgydeak prevailed 2–1, claiming the mixed doubles gold medal.

Women’s Doubles:
In the women’s doubles competition, the final highlighted the international character of the Challenger Teqball League.

The pair of Zsofia Dezsenyi (HUN), representing Teqball "Os Caixeiros" de Santarem, together with Barabasi from Gobek Teqball Team, reached the final after a strong performance during the tournament.

They faced the Hungarian club Raba ETO Gyor, represented by Gabriella Kota (HUN) / Krisztina Acs (HUN), in a high-quality final with several long exchanges and well-constructed points.

In the decisive moments, the Hungarian pair proved more consistent and secured the victory after a competitive match.

 

Challenger Teqball League continues to support global growth

Over the past two years, the Challenger Teqball League has become one of the most important platforms for developing the sport worldwide. The series helps reactivate clubs, bring back former players and give new athletes the chance to gain international experience, while also strengthening local communities through sport.

The successful Madeira stage once again demonstrated that the Challenger Teqball League format is not only about competition, but also about building connections, sharing experiences and expanding the global Teqball family.