We are only days away from what will be a historical event, the World Teqball Championships 2023. It is going to be the first WCh to be held outside of Europe as Bangkok will host the tournament with a record number of participants, having 211 athletes representing 61 countries.

The women’s doubles competition could be the most unpredictable one as many teams have changed since last year’s event, and the field looks quite even but still loaded. What we know for sure is that 27 duos will face each other and none of them won the gold medal before in this category.

We should start with the home unit of Suphawadi Wongkhamchan and Jutatip Kuntatong, not only because we are polite, but because they are still unbeaten in 2023. They took part in just three events (Dubai, Qingdao, Koh Samui) this year, but showed to the rest of the players what they are capable of, sweeping all tournaments. Now, backed by their supporters, they could be as dangerous as anybody.

One of their biggest challengers could be singles champion Carolyn Greco, who won back-to-back silvers with Margaret Osmundson; now she has Kimberly Baker on her side and they are ready to take the final step to the title.

For the first time, Brazil will not be represented by Rafaella Fontes and Natalia Guitler in the doubles (they hoisted the trophy in 2021, then finished 3rd in 2022), because Ester Viana Mendes and Vania Moraes da Cruz earned the right to try to build on the country’s already tremendous legacy. The twosome put together a strong 2023 campaign, winning three Teqball Tours and collecting three more medals.

Similar changes have been made within the Hungarian delegate: 2022 champions Lea Vasas and Zsanett Janicsek will not have a chance to defend their crown, instead, it is going be Petra Pechy and Nora Vicsek who will try to live up to the high expectations. This season, they won in Madrid and racked up five more podium finishes, so nobody should write them off. Romania also will not stick with their go-to twosome, Kinga Barabasi and Katalin Dako, so it is time to shine for Tunde Miklos and 17-year-old Kriszta Lakatos in Thailand.

Alicja Bartnicka won the bronze medal with Ewa Kaminska in the European Championship, and we know that appetite grows with eating, so in Bangkok, her aim could be the same with Zaneta Cygora as her partner. Other “darkhorse” candidates are Nanna Lind Kristensen&Mira Faeno Dahlmann from Denmark, Anastasija Lemajic&Maja Umicevic from Serbia, Iva Burvalova&Gabriela Zachova from Czechia and Elisa Lanche&Santana Sahraoui.

Without any clear-cut favourites, be ready for amazing battles and many games to go to three sets!

The women’s doubles program will kick off with the group stages in the Hua Mak Arena on November 29, and the semifinals and the medal matches will be hosted by the Bangkok Arena on December 3.