{
  "id": 8814201,
  "title": "Asian Games: Debuting sport teqball wins fans after late inclusion",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/asian-games-debuting-sport-teqball-wins-fans-after-late-inclusion",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-21T01:34:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Mainichi",
    "slug": "the-mainichi",
    "url": "https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260921/p2g/00m/0sp/004000c"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "NAGOYA (Kyodo) -- Thailand's Dejaroen Phakpong and Wongkhamchan Suphawadi claimed victory in the inaugural Asian Games teqball final, defeating Japan's Akinori Wase and Yuina Sakamoto 12-4, 12-5. Teqball, a fusion of football and table tennis, debuted at the Asian Games and proved popular with spectators, who watched the match at the Nagoya City Higashi Sports Center, where admission was free. Former Spanish football World Cup winner Carles Puyol was present to promote the sport and present medals. Wase, who serves as the Japan Teqball Federation President, emphasized the importance of the event in securing the sport's inclusion in future Asian Games, noting that he worked alone to achieve this goal. Thailand's dominance in the sport was evident in their wins in men's and women's doubles as well, leaving their opponents struggling to keep up.",
  "summary": "NAGOYA (Kyodo) -- Japan's mixed doubles pair Akinori Wase and Yuina Sakamoto fell short of gold in teqball, but the newly added sport, combining eleme",
  "key_points": [
    "Thailand's Dejaroen Phakpong and Wongkhamchan Suphawadi win inaugural Asian Games teqball final",
    "Teqball, fusion of football and table tennis, debuts at Asian Games",
    "Former World Cup winner Carles Puyol promotes sport and presents medals"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The success of teqball's Asian Games debut, marked by large spectator interest and Thailand's dominance, boosts its case for continued inclusion in future Games.",
  "illustration": "https://urgent.news/ill/8814201.png",
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Times",
        "title": "Pakistan thrash Thailand 9-0 in Asian Games hockey opener",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/pakistan-thrash-thailand-9-0-in-asian-games-hockey-opener",
        "published": "2026-09-20T20:54:18.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "RTHK English",
        "title": "HK wins second medal in karate at Asian Games",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/hk-wins-second-medal-in-karate-at-asian-games",
        "published": "2026-09-21T03:35:25.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}