{
  "id": 8639971,
  "title": "Lee Jun-suk becomes inaugural gold medalist in men's teqball",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/lee-jun-suk-becomes-inaugural-gold-medalist-in-mens-teqball",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-20T07:52:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/sports/20260920/lee-jun-suk-becomes-inaugural-gold-medalist-in-mens-teqball"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "South Korean player Lee Jun-suk became the first gold medalist in men's teqball at the Asian Games on Sunday. The inaugural champion made history by defeating Iraqi competitor Ali Jalil Mezher Alelayawi 2-0 (12-11, 12-5) in the final at Nagoya City Higashi Sports Center in Nagoya, Japan.\n\nLee, aged 27, secured this feat by winning all five group matches and both of his knockout contests without any defeat. This victory marks South Korea's third gold medal at the Asian Games.\n\nTeqball, a sport invented in Hungary in 2014, blends elements of football, table tennis, freestyle skills, and sepaktakraw. Played on a curved table, the game allows players to hit the ball with any body part except hands and arms. Each player is limited to a maximum of three touches per rally, and a player cannot touch the ball with the same body part consecutively.",
  "summary": "NAGOYA, Japan — Lee Jun-suk soared to gold in the men's singles teqball event at the Asian Games on Sunday, becoming the inaugural champion of the brand new sport making its Asiad debut. Lee defeated Ali Jalil Mezher Alelayawi of Iraq 2-0 (12-11, 12-5) in the final at Nagoya City Higashi Sports Center in Nagoya, Japan. Lee, 27, went undefeated on his way to the top of the podium, having won all…",
  "key_points": [
    "Lee Jun-suk becomes first male gold medalist in teqball history",
    "Defeated Ali Jalil Mezher Alelayawi 2-0 in final match",
    "South Korea secures third gold at Asian Games"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Lee Jun-suk becomes inaugural gold medalist in men's teqball",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/lee-jun-suk-becomes-inaugural-gold-medalist-in-mens-teqball-8642016",
        "published": "2026-09-20T08:07:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}