Quimcy D’Souza on Cusp of Historic First Teqball Medal for India at Asian Games 2026

Asian Games: India could have its first-ever medal in Teqball at the Asian Games when Quimcy D'Souza takes on World No. 7 Yuina Sakamoto of Japan. Earlier, Quimcy had played against Japan's Yuina Sakamoto during the group stage, where she won her game against her Japanese counterpart 2-1.

The 24-year-old former footballer topped Group A to earn a direct passage to the semifinals. She began her campaign with a stunning upset against Japan's Yuina Sakamoto, the world No. 7 and top seed.

After losing the opening set 10-12, Dsouza mounted a remarkable comeback to win the next two sets, 12-11 and 13-11, and clinch a 2-1 victory in a gruelling 43-minute contest.

She carried that momentum into her second group match against Cambodia's Koemyean DY, registering a comfortable 2-0 win. Dsouza won 12-9, 12-7 in just 24 minutes to finish top of the group.

Her impressive run continued into the semifinals, where she faced Indonesia's Ima Sumaya on Saturday. Dsouza made a strong start, taking the opening set 12-7, but Sumaya fought back to win the next two sets 12-9, 12-7 and complete a 2-1 victory.

The defeat ended Dsouza's hopes of competing for the gold medal, but she still has an opportunity to make history in Aichi-Nagoya.

Dsouza will face Sakamoto again in the women's singles bronze medal match on Sunday. A victory would see her become the first Indian athlete to win an Asian Games medal in Teqball.

With Teqball making its official Asian Games debut, Dsouza's performance has already marked a significant moment for Indian sport. She will now look to cap her campaign with a historic medal in the bronze medal contest.

Who is Quimcy Joaquim Dsouza?

Quimcy Dsouza's journey in Teqball has been one of rapid growth and remarkable achievement. A former football player who represented Maharashtra, Dsouza switched to Teqball in 2022 and quickly established herself as one of India's leading players. She has since won seven national titles and climbed to a career-best world ranking of 24.

Her progress has also been evident on the international stage. At the 2026 Teqball World Championships in Romania, Dsouza finished ninth, further underlining her rise in the sport.

What makes her journey particularly notable is that she developed her game without the guidance of a coach, relying on her own efforts to master the demands of Teqball.

Away from competition, Dsouza works as a test engineer with a sports goods retailer. She has also contributed to the growth of the sport by founding the Teqball Club of Bengaluru, creating a platform for aspiring players to learn, train, and pursue the game.