The city of Curitiba hosted two international events simultaneously in the last three days. The Teqball Youth Cup – Parana for U19 athletes and the Teqball Open – Parana for the seniors. These were the first events in Brazil open to every athlete in 2025.

Between the 21st and 23rd of June, Parana became the hub for Brazilian Teqball. Altogether 28 athletes competed in the Teqball Youth Cup – Parana in three categories: men’s singles, men’s doubles and women’s doubles, while 36 athletes faced each other in men’s, women’s and mixed doubles at Teqball Open – Parana, the tier V. event. 

In men’s singles of the underage event, although Eduardo Klamas (BRA) finished only second in the group stage, he overcame the challenges and first beat Joao Guilherme (BRA) in the semifinal who won the other group in three sets then got revenge against Mikael Andrade (BRA) after the defeat earlier. In the final, Klamas did not give any chance to Andrade and let only 9 points in two sets to his opponent. The bronze medal went to Guilherme after his triumph over his compatriot, Matheus Valadao.

Valadao and Andrade teamed up for men’s doubles and won the category confidently. Silver medallists became Klamas, and Guilherme finished third as they got the victory in a three-setter thriller against Gabriel Queiroz Castelo Branco/Lucas Gabriel Martins Scheleter (BRA).

In women’s doubles, the duo of Laura Monteiro Polati/Amanda Barcala Ribeiro (BRA) first finished second in the group stage, then back-to-back in three sets and conquered Curitiba. Although Mariane Gabrielle Godoi/Livia Maria Rocha Pereira (BRA) seemed to be the favourites in the final too, especially after they won the first set, in the end, they finished with silver. The bronze medal went to Mariana Trzaskus Araujo/Emanuele Fagundes Dias (BRA) after they won in two against Hellen de Oliveira Betette/Ednye Jamily Dias Kohut (BRA).

At the Teqball Open – Parana for the prize money of 1,500 USD, surprisingly, in men’s doubles, Matheus Ferraz/Leonardo Lindoso de Almeida (BRA) finished second behind Claudio Davi Ponte dos Santos/Lucas Bernardes (BRA), while the bronze was taken by Carlos Vasques/Leonardo Santana (BRA).

In women’s doubles, the two-time world bronze medallist twosome, Vania Moraes da Cruz/Ester Viana Mendes (BRA) were the heavy favourites and they did not let the ranking down as they beat Patricia Mayara Nardy/Leticia Luzorio Barbosa (BRA). In two straight sets, Maria Eduarda Freitas de Amorim Leite/Antonia Vitoria Fernandes Bonfim Gomes Esmeralda (BRA) finished third.

Ferraz/Viana Mendes were untouchable in mixed doubles and took the category. The silver went to the relatively unknown duo of Bernardes/Freitas de Amorim Leite. While Nardy/Santana beat Moraes da Cruz/Lindoso de Almeida for the bronze.

"It was a very important event not only for Brazil but for the entire American continent. Promoting Teqball is extremely important to us, and with this tournament, we had the opportunity to bring together athletes from other countries and play with people beyond our usual audience. It was a well-organised event, and we see that we need more and more events for referees to keep up with the sport's evolution, just as the athletes have been doing," said Viana Mendes

The events were organised by Vitoria da Silva Andrade of the FITEQ Athletes’ Commission with the help of Fala Sports.

Pictures: Costanza Bertolli