(LEAD) (Asiad) S. Korean player breezes through group stage as teqball makes debut

NAGOYA, Japan - South Korean player Lee Jun-suk dominated the men's singles teqball tournament at the Asian Games, winning all five preliminary-round matches on Thursday. Teqball, a new sport showcased at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, combines elements of football, table tennis, freestyle skills, and sepaktakraw. Played on a curved table, players use any body part except hands and arms to return the ball with a maximum of three touches.

The International Teqball Federation's rules aim to encourage diverse attacking options and longer rallies. Lee, 27, defeated opponents from Laos, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Japan in consecutive matches, finishing with a 2-0 victory over Akinori Wase of Japan. The competition included five players in Group A and six in Group B, with the top four advancing to the quarterfinals.

The semifinals, bronze, and gold medal matches follow. South Korea entered teqball internationally in 2019, with Lee transitioning from a former football player who reached the fourth division at age 21.