One win from history: India’s Quimcy Dsouza stuns top seeds to storm Teqball semi-finals at Asian Games

Quimcy Dsouza (ANI Photo) NEW DELHI: India’s Quimcy Joaquim Dsouza staged a stunning comeback against top seed Yuina Sakamoto of Japan before following it up with another convincing win to advance to the semi-finals of the women’s singles Teqball at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Friday.Making her Asian Games debut in the sport for the first time at a continental Games, the Indian showed remarkable composure under pressure at the Nagoya City Higashi Sports Center. She recovered from her opening match loss against Sakamoto to win 2-1 in a hard-fought match.Dsouza lost the first game 10-12, but responded brilliantly to see off the Japanese player 12-11 in the second before sealing the match 13-11 in the decider.They then carried that momentum into their second group game, defeating Cambodia’s Koemyean DY 2-0. Dsouza won the opening game 12-9 before closing out the contest 12-7 to finish top of her group and earn direct passage to the semi-finals.READ ALSO: Five of India’s little-known sports will compete at the 2026 Asian Games

We were one victory away from a historic medal

The result leaves Dsouz just one win away from securing a historic medal for India in teqball.In Saturday’s semi-final, she will face Indonesian Ima Sumaya. A win would secure Dsouz a place on the podium, while defeat would give her another chance in the bronze medal match against the loser of the other semi-final between Myanmar’s Wai Khin Hin and Lebanon’s Kamar Dandal.For Dsouz, the achievement is particularly significant as Teqball will debut at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya 2026. The sport, which originated in Hungary, combines elements of soccer with a curved table and is played in singles, doubles and mixed doubles.

The challenge of mixed doubles awaits you

Dsouza’s busy day also included the mixed doubles where she partnered Mohamed Anas Imran Beg. The Indian pair started their campaign with a win over the Philippines’ Jhoana Abulencio and Prince Agustin.They were scheduled to face Cambodia, Thailand and Kuwait in the remainder of their group campaign.India’s other Teqball representatives, Beg and Declan Marshall Gonsalves, earlier endured a tough start in the men’s doubles, losing both their group matches. However, the duo has already made history by winning India’s first ever teqball medal — a bronze in men’s doubles at the 2024 World Championships.