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

The World Teqball Championship 2024 will bring together the best athletes from around the globe to compete for the title in men's & women's singles and men's & women's and mixed doubles. The competition is expected to feature top players who have made a mark on the Teqball circuit, including some familiar faces from previous tournaments and emerging talents looking to challenge the established stars. The WTCH24 is going to be the very first of FITEQ's first flight completely outdoors.

The sport is rapidly expanding as this is going to be the second straight tournament held outside of Europe, in a country that has not had much success so far but wants to join the elite soon.

The tournament will start with the men’s singles qualifiers, and by the end of the day, only eight of the 52 contestants will remain standing. Reigning champion Adrian Duszak (Poland) will be back to defend his title, which is going to be an incredibly difficult task against the top favourite, world and European champion, FITEQ World Ranking leader Apor Gyorgydeak (Romania), who is undefeated in singles in 2024. They are not the only contenders, though as three-time individual world champ Adam Blazsovics (Hungary) is aiming for another podium finish, while last year’s bronze medallist Hugo Rabeux (France) wants to reach the final for the first time in his career. Then we have Nikola Mitro (Serbia), Boonkoom Tipwong (Thailand) and Matheus Ferraz (Brazil), who proved earlier in doubles that they are also world-class players.

On the second day, the women take over with their doubles competition, with 26 teams. If there are any clear-cut favourites at the WTCH24 in any category, Thailand’s Jutatip Kuntatong/Suphawadi Wongkhamchan must be one of them. They have been undefeated for almost 20 months, and their only goal is to go two in a row in terms of gold. They could be challenged by the brand new entry of Petra Pechy/Krisztina Acs (Hungary), 2023 bronze-winners Ester Viana Mendes/Vania Moraes da Cruz (Brazil), or Alicja Bartnicka/Zaneta Cygora (Poland).

After the WD qualifiers and Round of 16, the men return to the field, this time in doubles with 45 entries. Three-time gold-winners Nikola Mitro/Bogdan Marojevic (Serbia) will not enter this competition, potentially creating a vacant spot in the top 4. Current title holders Csaba Banyik/Balazs Katz (Hungary), last year’s runner-ups Matheus Ferraz/Rodrigo Bento Medeiros (Brazil) are all eyeing to return to the final, while four-time World Series medallists Jirati Chanliang/Sorrasak Thaosiri (Thailand) and the newly formed Polish superteam, Adrian Duszak/Marek Pokwap would like to make a splash, too.

The women in singles will start Day 3, too, with 42 players stepping to the tables in singles. 2022 champion Carolyn Greco (USA) has to miss the event due to injury, but last year’s medallists will all be present. Eventual winner Rafaella Fontes (Brazil) and Jutatip Kuntatong (Thailand) made teqball world famous as one of the rallies from their final was shown all around the globe. Romanian Kinga Barabasi, the current European champion has been on a tear in 2024 with 12 medals (9 golds) so far, and we can add the first individual woman world champ, Hungarian Anna Izsak to the mix, just like Amelie Julian (France) and Teqball first European championships medallist Nanna Lind Kristensen (Denmark).

Last, but not least, the mixed doubles take the stage on Day 3, having 42 units competing for medals. This could be the most exciting category as there are no dominating forces but at least 6 title hopefuls. Suphawadi Wongkhamchan/Phakpong Dejaroen (Thailand) put on a show a year ago in Bangkok, much to the delight of their fans who watched them lifting the trophy. Brazilians Vania Moraes da Cruz/Leonardo Lindoso de Almeida has finished second three straight times, then there is another new unit of Krisztina Acs/Balazs Katz (Hungary), Alicja Bartnicka/Marek Pokwap (Poland), the emerging Romanian powerhouse of Kinga Barabasi/Apor Gyorgydeak and Amelie Julian/Hugo Rabeux from France, who are all considered contenders.

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