„Don’t change the winning formula” - the old saying goes. Well, last year’s World Teqball Championships proved to be the biggest one to date, so FITEQ decided to organize this year’s competition in Asia, too. For the first time, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam will host the largest tournament with high expectations and an even higher number of participants as 221 players signed up for the event, setting a new record.

Any sport’s world championship is supposed to feature the elite of the elite, and teqball is no different. For example, the men’s singles field presents five individual gold medals and all medallists from the previous two editions.

With 52 contestants, this is the most stacked category with some returning countries that missed last year’s tournament. But let’s start with the contenders.

Romanian Apor Gyorgydeak was crowned in 2022, then won the sport’s first-ever European Championship, but was defeated in the WTCH23 final by the Polish Adrian Duszak, who finally got to taste victory after finishing 2nd or 3rd four times combined. Gyorgydeak has been undefeated since that match and also leads the category's World Ranking, which is an incredible feat, on the other hand, Duszak battled with injuries throughout 2024 and has not regained his form yet.

Three-time singles world champion Adam Blazsovics will represent Hungary once again, trying to improve from last year’s 5th-place finish. In 2023 it was Hugo Rabeux who eliminated him in the quarterfinals, now the Frenchman is back to earn a medal in consecutive years. Brian Mengel Thomas made history in Bangkok, getting a top 4 finish for Denmark, but due to injuries he has to miss the WCh in Ho Chi Minh City, Mathias Landen Jeppesen will replace him.

Let’s talk about the dark horses who have the potential to cause some surprises. Thailand’s Boonkoom Tipwong needs no introduction and he’s having a successful 2024 campaign so far, winning five medals, two of them being from individual competitions of the Teqball World Series. Serbian Nikola Mitro made a name for himself in doubles with his three titles, but in 2024 he will make his debut in singles in the world championships. The same could be said about Matheus Ferraz, who earned the right to represent Brazil individually after finishing 2nd in doubles in 2023.

Nigerian Victor Oyemade returns to Vietnam with great memories of the country as he was voted the Best Male Athlete of the TWS in Quy Nhon earlier in 2024. Jonathan Coquelle made a remarkable run in 2023, losing only to Gyorgydeak in the quarterfinals, so the question is whether the Belgian could go even further in Vietnam.

16-year-old Alexander Hamm from Austria is considered one of the rising stars of teqball, it could be his time to shine on the biggest stage.

It is always great to have countries that return after a short hiatus. In 2024, Ecuador (Francisco Javier Muñoz Vega), Georgia (Lasha Mushkudiani), Ghana (Sylvester Oko Nortey), Hong Kong (Ming Fai Lee), Malta (Gian Carlo Sammut), Mexico (Aaron Alexis Servin Rios) and Vietnam (Huy Do Bao) re-joins the competition after taking a break in 2023, proving Teqball is not only a worldwide sport but one does not the close on anybody.

The World Teqball Championships 2024 starts on 4th December, the games will be played at Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Plaza in Ho Chi Minh City. Finals are on the 7th & 8th.