Santarém welcomed 62 athletes from 15 nations for three days of high-level competition, as World Champions, leading international players and emerging talents battled for titles across three doubles categories.

 

Santarém, Portugal, 1 September 2026 – The international Teqball community gathered in Santarém from 27 to 29 August for the Challenger Teqball League Santarém Cup, a FITEQ World Tour Category 4 event offering €3,000 in prize money.

 

The competition brought together 62 athletes representing 15 nations, including several of the sport’s leading names. With multiple World Champions, World Championship medallists and athletes ranked among the world’s best, the event delivered three days of high-level competition across Women’s Doubles, Men’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles.

 

Already firmly established as one of Portugal’s leading Teqball destinations, Santarém once again provided an international stage for athletes from across Europe and beyond. The strength of the field ensured a highly competitive tournament, with closely contested matches and impressive performances throughout the three days.

 

The event also provided Portuguese athletes with an important opportunity to compete directly against some of the biggest names in the sport. Beyond the competition itself, the presence of leading international players created valuable opportunities for training, exchange and learning, contributing to the continued development of Teqball in Portugal.

 

Strong international field across all three doubles categories

 

The Women’s Doubles competition featured a strong international line-up, with Patricia Nardy (BRA), representing Caixeiros de Santarém, joining forces with reigning Mixed Doubles World Champion Kinga Barabasi (ROU). The pair produced an impressive campaign and went on to claim the title after defeating Carolina Clemente (POR) and Zsofia Dezsenyi (HUN), both representing the host club Caixeiros de Santarém, in the final.

 

The podium was completed by two further international combinations. Amelie Julian (FRA), currently ranked fourth in the world and representing Caixeiros de Santarém, secured bronze alongside Maria Chedid (LBN), while Filipa Martins (POR), also representing Caixeiros de Santarém, reached the same stage alongside Adriana Kecerova (SVK).

 

The Men’s Doubles draw was headlined by four-time World Champion Apor Gyorgydeak (ROU), who partnered his regular teammate and current world ranking leader Marek Pokwap (POL). The experienced pairing lived up to expectations, navigating a competitive field to secure the title in Santarém.

 

Their opponents in the final were the young Portuguese duo of Martim Vasques (POR), 17, and Goncalo Reis (POR), 18, representing Caixeiros de Santarém. Their run to the final was one of the standout performances of the tournament and underlined the growing strength of Portugal’s next generation on the international stage.

 

The bronze-medal positions were shared by Frederik Mondrup (DEN), representing Caixeiros de Santarém, and compatriot Jens Toftegaard (DEN), while Alexander Hamm (AUT) and Istvan-David Sagyebo (ROU) completed the Men’s Doubles podium.

 

World Champions add another title in Mixed Doubles

 

The Mixed Doubles category brought together another high-quality field, with reigning World Champions Gyorgydeak and Barabasi continuing their impressive form.

 

The Romanian pair added another title to their record after overcoming Pokwap and Chedid in the final, completing a successful tournament for both World Champions after their respective victories in the Men’s and Women’s Doubles competitions.

 

Portugal’s Reis and Slovakia’s Kecerova were among the standout performers in the category, securing a bronze-medal finish after an impressive campaign. Hamm and Dezsenyi claimed the other third-place position to complete the Mixed Doubles podium.

 

Santarém delivers another successful international event

 

Beyond the sporting results, the Santarém stage received highly positive feedback from athletes and delegations, who highlighted the organisation, playing conditions and overall experience throughout the event.

 

According to Rui Marques Leitao, member of the FITEQ Executive Board and responsible for the organisation, the tournament delivered both a high-quality sporting programme and a positive experience for the participating athletes.

 

“The competition exceeded all expectations, but we also wanted the athletes to leave satisfied with the way they were welcomed and with the conditions they found here. I am sure that everyone, including those who did not win, will take good memories of Santarém with them,” Leitao said.

 

The organisation also placed an emphasis on connecting the tournament with the local community, involving restaurants, hotels and other local partners to extend the impact of the event beyond the competition venue.

 

The 2026 Challenger Teqball League Santarém Cup marked the third edition of the event and further strengthened Santarém’s position as an established destination on the international Teqball calendar, providing a high-quality competitive environment for both leading international athletes and emerging talents.

 

With World Champions competing alongside some of the most promising players of the next generation, the Santarém stage once again showcased the growing international reach and competitive depth of Teqball.