The 2025 Beach International Teqball Cup took place in Wanning, Hainan, China, marking the return of beach Teqball. Over three days of action, players from 12 nations competed in men’s singles and men’s doubles on the scenic shores of Wanning. The event also served as a preparation tournament ahead of the 2026 Asian Beach Games, which will also be held in the Province of Hainan, in Sanya.

 

The men’s singles category featured several world-class players, who all managed to advance from the group stages with admirable confidence and consistency on the sand surface. Come the knockout stages, several enticing matchups formed - among the best were Akinori Wase (JPN) against Faris Farizal (MAS), a three-set thriller that went the way of the veteran Japanese, who earned his first international silverware at the Teqball World Series – Beijing just one month ago. His fellow countryman, Seiya Arai, fell to Boldizsar Levik (HUN) in three sets. The quarterfinals brought true beach Teqball classics as two-time World Champion Phakpong Dejaroen (THA) triumphed over Noah Dahlmann (DEN) despite losing the first set 12-5. Alexander Hamm (AUT) overcame the Chinese veteran Sun Zhixu, similarly, after three sets. On the other side of the bracket, Uthen Kukheaw (THA) bested Sokphirom Riem (CAM), while Boldizsar Levik advanced past Akinori Wase as well.

 

The semi-finals saw undoubtedly the best game of the whole men’s singles category, with Hamm clinching victory against Dejaroen in the scorching heat after an almost 45-minute encounter which ended 2-1 in the Austrian’s favour (12-11, 10-12, 12-10), who then went on to win the entire category against Levik in the final. That is now 11 wins of his last 15 games for Hamm, who jumped 13 places in FITEQ’s World Ranking in October’s update.

 

In the men’s doubles category, the Japanese duo of Arai / Wase quickly established themselves as a force to be reckoned with, posting an impressive +34 point difference across the group stages. The Levik / Szabolcs Ilyes (ROU) pairing of youth and experience also topped their groups, while Group B went in favour of Dahlmann / Hamm, and Group D was dominated by the Thai partnership of Kukheaw / Dejaroen. The group winners all advanced through the quarterfinals in convincing fashion.

 

The semi-final between Hamm / Ilyes and the Japanese duo required a true test of stamina, with the final set ending 15-13 in favour of Arai / Wase, who went on to face the Thais in the final after they beat the young duo of Dahlmann / Hamm in two sets. Possibly the biggest upset – although deservedly so – was the ultimate triumph of the Japanese pair as they bested their opponents in three sets (12-7, 4-12, 12-10), winning the gold medal at the event.

 

The 2025 Beach International Teqball Cup offered a refreshing return to the sand, bringing back the sport’s summer spirit in an inspiring coastal setting. The action, however, does not stop here - the Teqball Tour now heads to Bangkok from 17–19 October, where another exciting chapter awaits.