„Don’t change the winning formula” - the old saying goes. Well, last year’s World Teqball Championship proved to be the best one to date, so FITEQ decided to organize this year’s competition in Asia, too. For the first time ever, Ho Chi Minh City 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.

In 2023, the women’s singles final between Rafaella Fontes (BRA) and Jutatip Kuntatong (BRA) put the whole World on notice that Teqball is constantly evolving, provides great show, and tremendous athletic skills are required on the highest level. One of the rallies became the signature of the sport in the past year, and it made the highlight reels everywhere around the globe, watched millions of times on various platforms.

The good news is that both of them are back to compete for the WTCH24 title in Ho Chi Minh City with 40 other players. Fontes, the reigning champion, has not played at any international competition in 2024 though, so there are question marks around her, while Kuntatong collected one gold in singles and two in doubles in the Teqball World Series.

Unfortunately, 2022 champion Carolyn Greco will not be present as she is still recovering from a serious injury, Kindall Kaufmann will replace her from the USA. On the other hand, Hungarian Anna Izsak, Teqball’s first individual woman champion (2021) is back and aiming for a medal, coming off a great 2024 campaign that includes five podium finishes in singles.

Speaking of strong 2024 seasons, European champion and last year’s bronze-winner Kinga Barabasi from Romania has had an incredible year so far with 12 medals, 9 of them being gold, she will be one of the favourites in Vietnam.

After winning the bronze at the European Games in 2023, Danish Nanna Lind Kristensen had a disappointing WTCH23, she wants to make at least the top 8 this time. Amelie Julian had a tough draw in 2023 (had to face Barabasi in the quarterfinals), but it is obvious that she is capable of fighting for a medal, just like Viorica Tonu, who won Moldova’s first-ever gold medal (in women’s doubles) in Budapest at the last Teqball World Series stop in 2024.

We have dark horses in this category, too, as both Kamar Dandal from Lebanon, Silvia Ferrer Garcia from Spain finished in the top 8 last year, and Mara D'Alessandro who finished 4th at the European championships, so nobody should write them off.

Two returning nations missed the 2023 edition but are back this year: Naomi Du-Pont will represent Swaziland, while Nhu Thi Huynh Khuat will wear the colours of the host country, Vietnam and will enjoy the support of the fans.

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