India’s Teqball Hope Falls Just Short of the Podium at the Asian Games

Nagoya – The buzz around the teqball arena was palpable on Sunday as India’s own Quimcy Dsouza and Mohamed Anas Imran Beg stepped onto the court for the mixed‑doubles bronze‑medal showdown. Their opponents? A sharp‑eyed Vietnamese duo – Nguyen Hoang Minh Tan and Trinh Gia Nghi – who were determined to keep the medals on their side of the net.

Both sides started the first set neck‑and‑neck, trading points until it read 6‑6. For a moment it looked like India might edge ahead, and indeed they managed to slip to an 8‑6 lead. But, as is often the case in tight matches, momentum can swing in a heartbeat. The Vietnamese pair launched a five‑point surge that left the Indian team scrambling, and the set closed 12‑9 in Vietnam’s favour.

The second set followed a familiar script. India tried to string together a few good rallies, but missed a few crucial chances. Meanwhile, Tan and Nghi kept their composure, pulling away late to seal the set 12‑6. The final whistle confirmed a 9‑12, 6‑12 defeat – a bittersweet ending for the Indian duo, who now finish fourth.

Adding to the drama was an untimely injury to Quimcy Dsouza. Earlier that day she had already battled in the women’s singles bronze match, and a nagging back and right‑leg strain forced her to take a longer medical break midway through the mixed‑doubles second set. When she returned, the pain was evident – especially on serve – and the scoreboard reflected it, with India trailing 5‑9 and only adding a solitary point before the Vietnamese wrapped things up.

For Quimcy, this was a tough conclusion to her Asian Games debut. She had earlier beaten Japan’s Yuina Sakamoto in the group stage, only to lose to her in the women’s singles bronze playoff. That loss, combined with today’s mixed‑doubles result, means she walks away without a medal from the Games, despite having reached the bronze match in two separate events.

Mohamed Anas Beg, meanwhile, shares the disappointment but also the pride of having taken India to the brink of a historic teqball medal. The pair’s journey – from early-round victories to the edge of the podium – will be remembered, and perhaps it will fuel a stronger comeback at the next edition of the Games.