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Jonathan White

What is Teqball?
If you have seen videos of a sport that looks like a cross between table tennis and football played on a curved table then that’s Teqball.
Invented by Hungarian ex-footballer Gabor Borsanyi, the game was developed from his practising football with friends using the concrete outdoor table tennis tables in Budapest.
He added the curve to the table with his co-founders Gyorgy Gattyan and Viktor Huszár as they developed the sport with the “Teq” part of the name coming from the technique needed to return the ball.

😅 Teqball today...#BHAFC 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/t7PgrPkGe7
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) March 23, 2021

It’s caught on quickly around the world since Ronaldinho launched it in Budapest in 2016.
Teqball has been used as a training tool at a number of English Premier League clubs and elite professional clubs around the world, while some players have been pictured with their personal tables.
Search for Hong Kong’s first national Teqball team begins at Hong Kong Challenge Cup with Asian Beach Games debut incoming
Current and ex-pros to back the sport include ambassadors Luis Figo, David Beckham and Neymar Jnr but the list of supporters from inside football includes some of the game’s biggest names.
Similarly, some of the world’s most storied futsal teams use Teqball in training, such as Sporting Lisbon.
There are now more than 100 national Teqball associations across the world and the sport is growing.


Teqball is pushing for Olympic inclusion – the International Federation of Teqball (Fiteq) was recognised by the Olympic Council of Asia at their general assembly in August 2018. Africa and Oceania followed in 2019.
It was set to be in the 2020 Asian Beach Games in Sanya, China, which have been postponed to this year.
Fiteq chairman Viktor Huszar said that he hoped it could be a full Olympic sport by the 2032 Games though some have mentioned the 2028 Games.


So how do you play?
Well, you need a Teqball table and a football, for starters.
Players compete either individually or in pairs with a size 5 football recommended. Matches are played over three sets, each of which is played until one side has reached 12 points – though a deciding third set has to be won by two points. You win a point by hitting the opponent’s side of the table and them not returning it.


There are two service attempts and once the ball is in play it must be returned in no more than three touches. Players cannot use their hands or their arms, as in football. In doubles both of the players on a team need to touch the ball before it is returned.
Players can not use the same body part to touch the ball consecutively. Players can not return the ball with the same body part consecutively. Players can not touch their opponents nor the Teqball table.
Fitteq’s Borsányi has said that he wanted the sport to be inclusive. It can be played mixed, while the world’s first all female team BellaTeq was founded in Los Angeles last year, and there is also para Teqball.

Family wars 👀😊 @Thiago6 @Rafinha - Tag 1 family member you want to challenge👇
•#Teqball #WorldIsCurved #Teq #Family pic.twitter.com/vijO59fUgR
— TEQBALL (@Teqball) February 6, 2021

More importantly, as sport looks for ways to map out the post-pandemic world, Teqball is already non-contact and socially distanced.


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English Premier League

What is Teqball? How to play the sport backed by Neymar, David Beckham and Ronaldinho

Ronaldinho in action for AC Milan in 2008. The former Brazil international is one of Teqball’s global ambassadors. Photo: AFP

Teqball talent search begins at Hong Kong Challenge Cup as officials target Asian Beach Games debut

A Hong Kong player returns the ball during an exhibition match. Photo: Hong Kong Teqball Association   

Teqball is played between two to four players with curved tables. Photo: Hong Kong Teqball Association

Two Hong Kong Teqball teams compete in an exhibition match at the Central Harbourfront. Photo: Hong Kong Teqball Association

Hong Kong Teqball Association and Hong Kong Newly Emerged Sports Association founder Lai Kong-ip hopes to kick-start a new all-inclusive sport. Photo: Hong Kong Teqball Association

Messi and Ronaldinho long gone but legacy of Beijing 2008 lives on in the Chinese Super League’s best title race in years

Guangzhou Evergrande goal machine Gao Lin celebrates scoring in the 2018 AFC Champions League. Photo: Xinhua

Searching for the Chinese Lionel Messi? Xi Jinping might want to follow the futsal model

Children playing futsal at the Cafu Foundation in Sao Paulo in 2013. Photo: AFP

epa05143501 Ricardinho (L) of Portugal in action against Igor Osredkar (R) of Slovenia during the UEFA Futsal European Championships Group A match between Slovenia and Portugal in Belgrade, Serbia, 04 February 2016. EPA/SRDJAN SUKI

epa06808392 Movistar Inter's Bruno Taffy (L) and FC Barcelona Lassa's Mario Rivillos (R) in action during the third final match for Spain's Primera Division futsal cup at the Palau Blaugrana in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, 14 June 2018. EPA-EFE/Quique Garcia

Hong Kong U15 Futsal team at Fat Kwong Street Sports Centre in Ho Man Tin. 05MAY15

Hong Kong Blind Football Team showcases futsal skills at ‘Experience in the Dark’ event

Members of the Hong Kong Blind Football Team arrive on the court. Photo: Handout

Former Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying was playing a booth game of blinded pentalty kicks guided by the organiser from the Aladdin Football School. Photo: Handout

A member from the Y-Elites Association Football Team was shooting a penalty kick at the final against the Hong Kong Blind Football Team. Photo: Handout

Australian-Hong Kong futsal star Aaron Yu dreams of taking Victoria state success to the international scene

Aaron Yu celebrates scoring with his Melbourne Lions teammates. Photos: Handout

Yu and the Lions finish the season second in the Victoria league and cup-winners. Photo: Handout

Yu puts his body on the line to save a shot from an opposing team player. Photo: Handout

Yu receives his fourth Series Futsal Victoria Golden Gloves award in crutches but with a smile. Photo: Handout

Yu wins the Series Futsal Victoria league with previous team Fitzroy. Photo: Handout

The experienced goalkeeper Yu has played for some of Melbourne's biggest futsal teams. Photo: Handout

Sport

Football

Several English Premier League clubs have installed tables which they use as part of training, while elite futsal teams also play the sport
Fiteq now has more than 100 national associations and hopes to be included in the Olympic Games as soon as 2032


Several English Premier League clubs have installed tables which they use as part of training, while elite futsal teams also play the sport that hopes to be included in the Olympic Games.


IOC (International Olympic Committee)

David Beckham

Neymar

Provide background, definition and detail of a specific topic, helping the reader understand how something works or what has happened in the past.  (Eg. What is Nafta? US and Mexico are on the verge of revising trade deal.)


Explainer

Explainer | What is Teqball? How to play the sport backed by Neymar, David Beckham and Ronaldinho

Several English Premier League clubs have installed tables which they use as part of training, while elite futsal teams also play the sport Fiteq now has more than 100 national associations and hopes to be included in the Olympic Games as soon as 2032

Several English Premier League clubs have installed tables which they use as part of training, while elite futsal teams also play the sport

Fiteq now has more than 100 national associations and hopes to be included in the Olympic Games as soon as 2032