The Teqball World Series stop in Beijing brought four days of competition and 137 matches again in the Chinese Capital. The iconic Chinese National Stadium, the Bird’s Nest, and the equally unique Beijing Olympic Aquatics Centre, the Water Cube, rendered to the competition a stunning, world-famous urban backdrop, the former Olympic Medals Plaza in the Beijing Olympic Green. The event combined the expected excellence of the sport’s biggest names with breakthroughs from nations still carving out their place at the elite level.

 

The group stages on the opening two days set the tone. In men’s singles, Apor Gyorgydeak (ROU) and Milan Csabi (HUN) both advanced with three wins apiece, not conceding a single set. For Gyorgydeak, it was business as usual, while for Csabi, it marked another step in his rapid rise at just 18 years of age. Elsewhere, Group H earned its billing as the “group of death,” with European Youth Teqball Championships silver medallist Stefan Orlowski (POL), bronze medallist Alexander Hamm (AUT), Nooruldeen Hayder Khamms (IRQ), World Teqball Championships men’s doubles bronze medallist Declan Gonsalves (IND), and Qingyang Jiao (CHN) all battling for just two qualifying places. Orlowski and Hamm emerged, leaving high-profile names eliminated before the knockouts. The group stage also produced one of the week’s most surprising stories. Yoga Ardika Putra of Indonesia battled through qualification day without dropping a set, then topped Group G thanks to a blend of bravery and composure that defines his style of play.  

 

In men’s doubles, Gyorgydeak and Marek Pokwap (POL) looked poised from the start, winning their group and carrying momentum into the knockouts. The other contender team of Jirati Chanliang (THA) and Phakpong Dejaroen (THA) also finished on top of their group with an impressive +37 point difference. The Iraqi team of Nooruldeen Hayder Khamms and Abulfadhel Alelayawi also progressed steadily, building on their first international bronze medal at the Challenger Teqball League in Szekelyudvarhely just a week earlier. For the 17- and 18-year-old pair, back-to-back qualifications signalled consistency rather than chance. Indonesia’s men’s doubles pairing of Husni Uba and Yoga Ardika Putra gained valuable experience in Beijing as part of their preparation for the upcoming SEA Games. Guided by coach Gabriella Kota (HUN), the duo tested themselves against world-class opposition, taking important lessons that will strengthen their push on the regional stage.

 

Mixed doubles were defined by control. The Thai duo of Suphawadi Wongkhamchan and Phakpong Dejaroen swept through their group matches with a blistering +56 point differential, cementing their status as favourites. Yet in Group B, the challenger pairing of Pokwap and Kinga Barabasi (ROU) posted an even better record, finishing with a +66 differential - the best of the group stage across all categories.  It was an early marker that they could test the world champion pairing. The Japanese mixed doubles duo of Akinori Wasse and Yuina Sakamoto delivered one of the feel-good stories of Beijing, securing their first ever medal at an international tournament with a bronze. They had already impressed in the group stage, sweeping all six sets for a flawless 6:0 record, and carried that form into the knockouts. Their breakthrough podium finish marked a milestone for Japan and added to the growing influence of Asian teams in the sport.

 

As the event moved into the knockout rounds, the narratives sharpened. In singles, Gyorgydeak advanced with trademark efficiency, including a 2-1 win over Balazs Katz (HUN) in the quarter final. On the opposite side of the bracket Csabi handled elimination pressure with striking maturity. His biggest challenge came against Stefan Orlowski; however he managed to overcome the Polish prodigy in a 3-set thriller. Putra extended his run to a fifth-place finish, celebrated well beyond Beijing. Hungary’s Boldizsar Levik also reached the semi-finals, defeating Anas Beg (IND) and Arpad Sipos (HUN) before falling to FITEQ World Ranking number one Gyorgydeak.  

 

In men’s doubles, the bracket lined up a clash of styles. Gyorgydeak and Pokwap advanced to the final, where they would face Thailand’s Jirati Chanliang and Dejaroen. Iraq fought through to bronze, confirming their second consecutive international medal and emerging as podium contenders at a remarkably youthful age. For China, the duo of Jun Ming Zhang and Sun Zhixu provided a true highlight, upsetting Arpad Sipos and Alexander Hamm to reach the quarterfinals - a result that earned them a historic fifth place.  

 

Mixed doubles carried fewer surprises. Wongkhamchan and Dejaroen marched through the rounds with the same dominance they showed in groups, while Barabasi and Pokwap pieced together a similarly strong run to set up a final against the Thai powerhouse duo.

 

Finals day delivered the week’s defining moments. In singles, Gyorgydeak’s composure carried him to another World Series title, while Csabi’s silver at 18 underlined his potential to reshape the discipline in the years ahead.  The men’s doubles final was the tournament’s showpiece. Gyorgydeak and Pokwap’s three-set win over Chanliang and Dejaroen (10–12, 12–10, 13–11) stretched to the limit. Played under punishing heat, the rallies demanded reflexes, endurance, and decision-making at the highest level. The three-set thriller stood out as the match of the tournament and of the year.  Mixed doubles ended with inevitability rather than suspense. Wongkhamchan and Dejaroen did not drop a set all week, completing a flawless run and reinforcing their place as the most reliable pairing in the discipline. For Wongkhamchan, now a four-time world champion, and Dejaroen, a two-time world champion, Beijing was another marker of sustained excellence.  For China, the tournament ended with encouraging signs. A large contingent of athletes competed across all three categories, ensuring home representation deep into the draw. Zhang and Sun’s men’s doubles quarterfinal stood out, while several mixed pairs also progressed from their groups. The scale of participation reflected Teqball’s growing momentum in China, and the experience gained against world-class opposition will undoubtedly accelerate that development. Alongside Indonesia’s breakthrough and Iraq’s continued rise, Asia’s influence on the future of the sport grew clearer in Beijing.  

Attention now shifts to Bangkok, where the Teqball Tour runs from October 17–19. Champions, rising nations, and new contenders will all have another chance to shape the course of the season.