The Teqball World Series Quy Nhơn will draw in the strongest players from around the globe to compete starting June 6 in Việt Nam. — Photo of FITEQ

HÀ NỘI — International Teqball Federation (FITEQ) representative Béla Müller praised players' hard work in preparing for the Teqball World Series Quy Nhơn, which will be held in Việt Nam for the first time next week.

The tournament will host 131 teams with athletes from 53 countries around the world at the Quy Nhơn City beach in Bình Định Province from June 6-9.

Athletes will compete for titles in the men’s singles and doubles and mixed doubles categories. This competition offers a platform for players to earn valuable ranking points and elevate their standing in the global teqball community.

Speaking to reporters, Müller said that teams are currently training hard to ensure their best performance at the tournament. Among them are players from world powerhouses such as Denmark, Brazil, Serbia, Romania, Lebanon, Tunisia, Poland, Hungary, Thailand, France and the US, all targeting the top three podiums.

But there are also rising stars from Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, China, Senegal, Italy, Argentina and Colombia. Müller said he hopes to name talented Vietnamese players on this list after the World Series.

Teqball was first played in Hungary in 2014 and has grown more and more popular. A ball sport that is played on a curved table, it combines elements of the Malaysian game sepak takraw (also known as kick volleyball) and table tennis. Players hit the ball back and forth with any part of the body except their arms and hands. Teqball can be played between two players as a singles game or between four players as a doubles game.

Teqball does not require as much physical strength as football or as much technique as table tennis. The most important element is dexterity. Both men and women can compete. Many high-level football players like Ronaldinho, Messi and Neymar have participated in playing Teqball.

FITEQ is currently home to more than 150 federations. There are more than 4,000 clubs over the world. FITEQ has organised five World Cups since 2017, missing out only in 2020 and 2021.

The provincial People's Committee said hosting the tournament will be an impressive highlight for locals and their international friends.

It would help show off the natural beauty of Bình Định to the world and attract foreign investment in different sectors, especially tourism, contributing to socio-economic development and raising the country's position in the international arena.

Recently, the Bình Định's Department of Culture and Sports has set up Teqball tables at Chiến Thắng Square near the competition venue in order to introduce the sport to local residents and tourists.

People can now experience the technique and rules of the game and test their ability for free.

The equipment is a gift from FITEQ to Bình Định's Sports Training Centre and two local colleges after a meeting between local leaders and Gábor Lehőcz, Consul General of Hungary in HCM City and Laszlo Vajda, Secretary General of FITEQ.

Vajda said age and players' size were not important in practising Teqball. Vietnamese people love sports, so they can practise Teqball to improve their physique and health with an active lifestyle.

Teqball should be popularised and developed in schools and colleges in Bình Định before spreading to other localities. VNS