The Thai had fond memories from Qingdao as they won two categories out of three last year and their domination continued. At Teqball World Series Qingdao, the Asians surprised the world champions in men's doubles, the immaculate couple stayed unbeaten in women's doubles while the mixed doubles has been cancelled.

Day 3 was supposed to be the grand finale of the Teqball World Series Qingdao, but rain delays forced the organizers to reconfigure the schedule. On Friday, only the men’s doubles quarterfinals got postponed, but a day later, the weather caused even more delays. Only 10 mixed doubles matches were played before the arrival of the rain and the rest of the program was put on hold, then moved to Sunday, making it one of the busiest closing days in Teqball history.

The women’s doubles was the only category that played out according to the original plan. World champions and winners of the first edition of Teqball World Series in Madrid, Suphawadi Wongkhamchan/Jutatip Kuntatong (THA) allowed only five points in the semifinal against the surprise team of the tournament, Samah Shakir Abed/Zahraa Alshammari from Iraq, advancing to the final and extending their winning streak. On the upper bracket, Madrid’s silver medallists Krisztina Acs/Gabriella Kota (HUN) prevented the all-Thai final by eliminating Areeya Homdee/Jariya Seesawad in straight sets and they gave themselves a chance to get revenge for Madrid.

In the first set, the Hungarians did not let the Thais break away and stayed within striking distance. However, toward the end of the set, the world champions put together a streak and closed out their opponents. Acs/Kota started the second set stronger and even held a two-point lead, but Wongkhamchan/Kutatong came back and once again finished better than their rivals. They won their 26th match in a row, claimed another gold medal and defended their Qingdao title from 2023.

Women's doubles

Acs/Kota (HUN) – Wongkhamchan, Kuntatong (THA) 0:2 (-7, -8)

"This final was more emotional for me as the Hungarian double became stronger since we last met. These successes show we are on the right path to continue our work." - said Wongkhamchan.

Hungary's Kota in her knees as Wongkhamchan & Kuntatong won once again.

In the men’s doubles, the four group winners proceeded to the semifinals after defeating their opponents in the quarterfinals. Julien Grondin/Bartlomiej Franczuk (FRA/POL) made it tough for Phakpong Dejaroen/ Boonkoom Tipwong in two tight sets, and the case was the same for Seiya Arai/Akinori Wase (JPN), who made Szabolcs Ilyes/Marek Pokwap (ROU/POL) run for their money. Their match in the SF ended up more lopsided as the Thais only allowed a combined 9 points to Ilyes/Pokwap and moved on to the final. There, they met their countrymen, Sorrasak Thaosiri/Jirati Chanliang, who shocked world champions Csaba Banyik/Balazs Katz (HUN) and knocked them out in straight sets in the other semifinal.

Their incredible run continued in the final (which was a rematch of Quy Nhon’s gold medal game), where they dominated the first set against the WCh bronze medallists, who got back on track in the second, much tighter set and levelled the score by converting a breathtaking set point. They managed to carry the momentum onto the deciding set, where Dejaroen/Tipwong built an advantage early and hung on to it to complete the comeback and win the trophy!

Men’s doubles

Thaosiri/Chanliang (THA) – Dejaroen/Tipwong (THA) 1:2 (7, -9, -7)

"The first set surprised us. We did not find the rhythm but after the pause, we showed our strength" emphasized Tipwong who got his second trophy.

Tipwong was unstoppable in Qingdao.

The mixed doubles field was by far the largest among the three categories. All contenders swept their respective groups and the Round of 16, so 5 Thai and 2 Hungarian teams advanced to the quarterfinals alongside Boglarka Simo/Marek Pokwap (ROU/POL). Madrid’s and Quy Nhon’s champs Krisztina Acs/Csaba Banyik (HUN) eliminated Seesawad/Pornthep Wapisiri (THA) but were stopped in the semifinal by world champions Wongkhamchan/Dejaroen (THA), who bounced Kuntatong/Chanliang (THA) a round earlier. In the final, they faced fellow Thais Sudarat Thongkot/Boonkoom Tipwong, who played the most exciting match of the day in the QFs against Gabriella Kota/Balazs Katz (HUN), which lasted for three sets and none of the sets were decided by more than three points. In the SF, they secured an easier win versus Homdee/Sorrasak Thaosiri (THA).

Minutes after winning the men’s doubles, Dejaroen and Tipwong separated for this final, but once again, rain struck. Since there was no option to reschedule this match, the organizers cancelled it and announced that the two teams would share the prize money and the FITEQ World Ranking points.

Mixed doubles

Wongkhamchan/Dejaroen (THA) – Thongkot/Tipwong (THA) - cancelled due to weather conditions

To nobody’s surprise, the Best Female and Best Male Athlete of the Teqball World Series Qingdao awards went to two Thai players: Suphawadi Wongkhamchan and Boonkoom Tipwong received the trophies, with the latter winning his first MVP award and Suphawadi became the first player winning the title twice in the history of FITEQ.

For the next Teqball World Series, FITEQ returns to the People's Republic of China as Beijing will host Teqball's first flight between 20 & 22 of September.