On the morning of 20/9, Nguyen Hoang Minh Tan and Trinh Gia Nghi beat India's Dsouza Quimcy Joaquim and Beg Mohamed Anas Imran with scores of 12-9, 12-6 to secure the mixed doubles teqball bronze medal. The match took place on the first official day of the Games, marking teqball's debut at ASIAD.

Teqball, or "table football", originated in Hungary in 2014, combining elements of football and table tennis. Athletes compete on a curved table, using a football, and are allowed to touch the ball with any body part except their hands and arms. The sport features singles, doubles, and mixed doubles categories.

Each match is played in a best-of-three sets format, with each set played to 12 points. In doubles, each team can touch the ball a maximum of three times, and the two athletes must pass the ball to each other at least one time before returning it to the opponent's side of the table.

Minh Tan (center) and Gia Nghi (third from the left) celebrate their mixed doubles teqball bronze medal at ASIAD 2026 in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan on the morning of 20/9/2026. *Photo: Tam Ninh*

The Vietnamese pair started slowly, trailing 2-0 in the first set. Minh Tan and Gia Nghi quickly regained control, scoring four consecutive points to take a 4-2 lead. Both sides then battled back and forth, with the Indian pair briefly pulling ahead 8-6. However, Minh Tan and Gia Nghi leveled the score at 8-8, then 9-9. At a crucial moment, the Vietnamese duo scored three consecutive points, winning the first set 12-9.

In the second set, Minh Tan and Gia Nghi maintained their advantage. After the score was tied 2-2, the Vietnamese pair began to widen the gap, leading 5-2, then 9-5. At this point, the match was paused as Dsouza experienced health issues and a back injury. The Indian athlete had just competed in the women's singles bronze medal match against Japan's Sakamoto Yuina. Playing two consecutive matches contributed to her physical exhaustion.

At India's request, the timeout was extended for Dsouza to receive medical attention. The match resumed, but the Indian athlete still struggled with movement and ball handling.

Minh Tan and Gia Nghi capitalized on their advantage, continuing to score. After extending their lead to 11-6, the Vietnamese pair concluded the set with a 12-6 victory, winning the match 2-0 and securing the bronze medal.

On their path to the bronze medal match, Minh Tan and Gia Nghi achieved an undefeated record against Japan, Iraq, Laos, South Korea, and Kazakhstan in the group stage. They defeated India in the quarterfinals but lost to Thailand in the semifinals. The other bronze medal went to Iraq. In this category, Thailand will compete for the gold medal against Japan in this afternoon's final.

Minh Tan and Gia Nghi are also the first Vietnamese athletes to win a medal at the Games held in Japan. Following their victory, the Vietnam Sports Delegation awarded them 50 million VND, and Hoa Lu Sports Center (TP HCM) also presented 1,000 USD to the two athletes.

Vietnam's teqball team still has opportunities to win more medals at ASIAD 2026. Ba Truong Giang and Le Anh Khoa are competing in the men's doubles event against Iraq. If they win, Vietnam could secure another bronze medal in the sport.

On the morning of 20/9, Vietnamese athletes also competed in several other sports. In karate, Bui Ngoc Nhi lost 0-5 to host athlete Ono Maho in the first round of the women's individual kata event. In shooting, Le Thi Mong Tuyen and Phi Thanh Thao competed in the women's individual rifle event. In swimming, Tran Hung Nguyen and Nguyen Quang Thuan advanced past the qualifiers for the men's 200m individual medley, while Vo Thi My Tien also reached the final of the 200m butterfly.

Xuan Binh