Incredible smashes, flying bicycle kicks, excitement from the get-go and sensational finals – this is what the Teqball Tour in Qingdao brought to the table.

48 duos in three categories (women’s, men’s and mixed doubles) competed in Qingdao, China at the first stop of the Asian tour.

Women's doubles

The teams of Jutatip Kuntatong/Suphawadi Wongkhamchan and Areeya Homdee/Jariya Seesawad only gave up a combined 15 points during the group stage (including one forfeited match) and 7 more in the quarterfinals. In the semis, Homdee/Seesawad faced two European champions: Kinga Barabasi, who won in singles, and Zsanett Janicsek, who claimed gold with Lea Vasas. The Romanian-Hungarian duo got off to a better start and took a 1:0 lead but the Thais quickly made it 1:1. It was time for the deciding set which became one of the biggest thrillers of the weekend with the Thais closing out the Europeans in overtime and advancing to the final. They met their compatriots after Kuntatong/Wongkhamchan defeated the individual world champion, Carolyn Greco and her partner for this tournament, the Hungarian Zsofia Dezsenyi.

The duel of the Thais did not end up as nerve-racking as expected as Homdee/Seesawad were not able to take revenge for the final of Dubai. Kuntatong and Wongkhamchan were the dominant side from the first rally and they never looked back. A total of 10-point differential needs no explanation, they deservedly claimed the gold, Homdee/Seesawad finished 2nd while Barabasi/Janicsek took home the bronze in two dominant sets.

Kuntatong/Wongkhamchan (THA) – Homdee/Seesawad (THA) 2:0 (-5, -9)

Wongkhamchan (THA) on the way to her first gold medal in Qingdao

Mixed doubles

The group matches also brought a lot of excitement, as the clash between Janicsek/Csaba Banyik and Kuntatong/Uthen Kukheaw went to a third set where the Hungarians rallied back from a 4:9 deficit to win 12:10 and took the group win. The other Hungarian unit, Zsofia Dezsenyi/Martin Csereklye almost did the same versus Greco/Frankie Diaz, where the Americans jumped to a 1:0 lead in sets, but Dezsenyi/Csereklye completed the comeback in the third. However, their competition ended in the next round, where they lost from a 1:0 advantage against Kuntatong/Kukhaew. They met fellow Thais, Wongkhamchan/Phakpong Derajoen in the semifinals and this duo was just too strong for them. On the other side of the bracket, Janicsek/Csaba Banyik eliminated Rafaella Fontes/Marcos Vieira from Brazil in the quarters, then Barabasi/Balazs Katz in the semis (who later won the bronze medal).

Despite Wongkhamchan resting little to no time, the Thai twosome looked more ready and prepared from the first minute, and their acrobatic smashes proved to be too much to handle for Janicsek and Banyik. The Hungarians saved a matchpoint though at the end of the second set and made it close in the thirds, but the Thais were unbreakable. Wongkhamchan collected two golds in an hour.

Wongkhamchan/Dejaroen (THA) – Janicsek/Banyik (HUN) 2:1 (-4, 11-, -10)

Wongkhamchan (THA) took two trophies in China

Men's doubles

The category started with one of the most anticipated matches between Frankie Diaz/Bartlomiej Franczuk and Dejaroen/Kukheaw. The Thais brought their A-game and won the first set by one point, however, Diaz/Franczuk equalized in the second. The third set started with spectacular Thai attacks and incredible bicycle kicks that resulted in a 7:1 lead, but from then on they went downhill. Diaz/Franczuk had an 11:1 run and completed the comeback to win the group. They fought their way into the semifinal where they met Banyik/Katz, whose 11-month undefeated streak came to an end a week ago. The Hungarians showed everybody that they shook it off and sent Diaz/Franczuk to the bronze medal game and advanced to the final. In the gold match, they faced Dejaroen/Kukheaw, who edged out Apor Gyorgydeak/Szabolcs Ilyes in the semifinal (the Romanians eventually took the bronze). It was also a ‘mini-duel’ between Banyik and Dejaroen who played two straight finals against each other.

Banyik/Katz wasted no time to set the tone and immediately grabbed the lead. They were just a couple of inches away from the finish line but the Thais saved 4 match points in a row and forced the third set. They carried on the momentum and won 4 of the first 5 rallies, but the Hungarians did not panic, stayed calm, turned the score around and did not miss another chance at the end of the set. With this triumph, they are back in the winners’ column.

Banyik/Katz (HUN) – Dejaroen/Kukheaw (THA) 2:1 (-4, 11-, -8)

Dejaroen/Kukheaw (THA) missed the three-peat for their country as they lost the final against Banyik/Katz (HUN)

Teqball Tour 2023 continues its path in Asia as the best teqers face each other in Koh Samui, Thailand between 10 & 13 of August.