For the first time ever, Teqball will be featured in one of the greatest sporting events in Europe, the European Games. Like many other sports, this tournament is not only about being part of the EG but will also count as the European Championship for teqers.

The debut of Teqball will consist of 69 players from 21 different countries in all five categories (women’s and men’s singles, doubles, mixed doubles).

14 teams will compete in the women’s doubles that will feature 4 players of the top 10 in the FITEQ World Ranking. WR 1 Lea Vasas and nr. 2 Zsanett Janicsek represent Hungary, the duo is the current World Champion after winning this event in Nuremberg last year. The Romanian twosome of Katalin Dako, WR7 and Kinga Barabasi, WR9 finished 4th at the WCH and now they are looking to upset the favourites, however, the Hungarian side won all three matches between them. Barabasi teamed up with Hungarian Petra Pechy a month ago in Los Angeles and won the event, and together with Dako they’ve claimed two silvers so far in 2023.

World Ranking 15th, Amalie Julien is having a strong year, finishing 2nd, 3rd and 4th respectively in the USA with Gabriella Kota by her side. This time, the top-ranked French player’s partner will be Elisa Lanche.

The team of Alicja Bartnicka and Ewa Kamińska will be backed by the Polish crowd in Krakow, and Bartnicka mentioned that they could not be more motivated.

„The European Games is a very important event and a great opportunity for me. I want to represent Poland in the best possible way and give 100%. Teqball is my life's passion without it I cannot imagine my life and I am glad that I wear the national jersey of the country at such an important sporting event. I will play with Ewa in the doubles and I want us to present ourselves as best as possible and to implement the schemes perfected by us during the preparatory period. We will give our best!”

The same cannot be said about the two Germans, Dana Hillmann and Stella Gloeckner, who have been playing together this year, but they have not been able to make it to the semifinal of any tournaments so far.

Will the German duo, Hillmann & Gloeckner finally reach the semifinals after three consecutive quarter-final losses?

Another duo that will likely contend for a medal is the Serbian. Anastasija Lemajic and Maja Umicevic, but only if they find chemistry, because this will be the first time they compete on the same side internationally.

Czechs Iva Burvalova and Gabriela Zachova are currently ranked just outside of the top 50, but with a strong performance, they can definitely leapfrog many of their rivals.

The 17-year-old Mira Dahlmann and 18-year-old Nanna Lind Kristensen will represent Denmark as the youngest duo, while the largest age gap is between the 49-year-old Carla Couto and the 23-year-old Manuela Parente from Portugal.

Barabasi & Dako in Skopje, North Macedonia at the European Teqball Tour in January

Austrians Andrea Sommer and Nina Steinbauer will make their doubles debut in Kraków, and it is also going to be the first time for Antonija Vranic and Patricija Pejic from Croatia. Laura-Maria Mereuta has experience from last year’s world championship, but this time, she will take on the challenge Viorica Tonu to represent Moldova. Karina Zustakova and Adriana Kecerova started to compete internationally in 2023 so this will be the biggest test for the Slovakians so far. Kateryna Fesenko and Daria Zelenska from Ukraine have recently teamed up, their first tournament together resulted in a 9th place.

The European Games will take place in Krakow, Poland, the Teqball competition will be held from 28 June until 1 July at the beautiful Main Square. The doubles will face off on 1 July.