The Teqball Tour returned to Dezhou, China, from 12–14 June, bringing together 79 athletes (50 men and 29 women) representing 15 nationalities for three days of elite competition. This year's edition marked a special occasion as Teqball returned to the city at a new outdoor venue, the impressive Qihe Huai-Lin Garden Scenic Area, providing a spectacular setting for one of the sport's premier international events.

 

Across Women's Singles, Mixed Doubles and Men's Doubles, established stars and emerging talents delivered memorable performances, while the host nation celebrated a historic milestone on home soil.

 

In Women's Singles, the group stage largely unfolded according to expectations, with leading contenders Kinga Barabasi (ROU), Yuina Sakamoto (JPN), Viorica Tonu (MDA) and the top Thai athletes all progressing to the knockout phase. One of the standout stories of the tournament came from Phatrawan Simawon (THA), the Asian Youth Games Girls' Doubles champion, who produced an impressive breakthrough performance to reach the final. The young Thai player pushed Kinga Barabasi to the limit before eventually falling in a closely contested three-set match, with the Romanian securing the title.

 

Mixed Doubles produced several notable storylines and surprises. Competing in his first official FITEQ event, Katunyu Phothong (THA) partnered Wantikka Innu (THA) to top their group ahead of the experienced pairing of Marek Pokwap (POL) and Viorica Tonu (MDA). Their strong performance proved decisive, as Pokwap and Tonu were subsequently eliminated in the Round of 16 by eventual champions Apor Gyorgydeak (ROU) and Kinga Barabasi (ROU). South Korea's Eun Jun Kim (KOR) and Eunseo Jang (KOR) also impressed on their international debut, advancing from the group stage before their campaign came to an end in the Round of 16.

 

Apor Gyorgydeak and Kinga Barabasi continued their dominant run throughout the knockout rounds, defeating Akinori Wase (JPN) and Yuina Sakamoto (JPN), Chayawut Dosa (THA) and Areeya Homdee (THA), before overcoming Katunyu Phothong and Wantikka Innu in the final to claim the Mixed Doubles title.

 

The Men's Doubles competition likewise highlighted several promising teams. South Korea's Taebeen Lee and Junsuk Lee enjoyed an encouraging first appearance on the international stage, reaching the knockout rounds before being stopped by Asian Beach Games silver medallists Ali Jalil Mezher Alelayawi (IRQ) and Abdulrahman Ahmad Radhi (IRQ). The Iraqi pair continued their strong campaign and eventually secured the bronze medal following a semi-final defeat to Apor Gyorgydeak and Marek Pokwap.

 

On the opposite side of the draw, Hungarian duo Boldizsar Levik and Jeno Vajtho delivered an outstanding performance, reaching the final without dropping a set. However, in the gold medal match, Apor Gyorgydeak and Marek Pokwap demonstrated their quality and experience to capture the title.

 

The host nation had additional reasons to celebrate as Mao Zheming and Mao Yongqing secured China's first-ever medal at an official FITEQ-sanctioned event. Their historic bronze-medal run included victories over two Japanese pairings before eventually falling to the Hungarian finalists in the semi-finals. The achievement represents an important milestone for the continued development of Teqball in China and reflects the growing competitiveness of local athletes on the international stage.

 

The event also served as an important benchmark for the Japanese delegation ahead of one of the most significant sporting events in Asia. Later this year, Teqball will make its debut at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, where the host nation will aim to challenge for medals on home soil. Strong performances from athletes such as Akinori Wase and Yuina Sakamoto in Dezhou provided valuable experience against world-class opposition and offered an important indication of Japan's readiness for the continent's premier multi-sport event.

 

Set against the stunning surroundings of the Qihe Huai-Lin Garden Scenic Area, the Teqball Tour – Dezhou once again showcased the sport's global appeal, bringing together athletes from across Asia, Europe and the Middle East in a truly international celebration of Teqball. The tournament delivered memorable performances, historic milestones and another successful chapter in Dezhou's growing Teqball legacy.

 

Fans who missed the action can watch all the finals back on the FITEQ YouTube channel | TEQ TV.