Indian pair's Asian Games teqball heartbreak as bronze medals slip away

Mumbai's Quimcy D'Souza came agonizingly close to claiming a bronze medal in the women's singles teqball competition at the Asian Games here on Sunday, but fell short against Japan's world No. 7 Yuina Sakamoto in a closely contested match. D'Souza lost 0-2 in sets (11-12, 11-12) in a best-of-three format, with the Japanese player claiming victory despite the Indian player's determined resistance throughout the encounter.

Competing before a home crowd, D'Souza demonstrated considerable skill and tenacity against her higher-ranked opponent. She earned a set point in the opening game and later surged to a 10-8 lead in the second set as she sought to force a deciding third game. Though ultimately unsuccessful, Sakamoto's straight-sets victory was narrower in margin than the scoreline suggested, reflecting the quality of D'Souza's performance.

The physical and mental toll of the intense singles contest appeared to weigh on D'Souza in the mixed doubles bronze-medal clash that followed minutes later. Partnered with Mohamed Anas Beg, the Indian pair faced Vietnam's Hoang Minh Tan Nguyen and Gia Ngih Trinh. D'Souza and Beg were unable to recover their momentum, losing 0-2 (9-12, 6-12) to secure the Vietnamese team's place on the podium.

The double setback marked a disappointing conclusion for India in teqball at the 2026 Asian Games, despite D'Souza's competitive showings across both events. The Indian contingent will look to build on the experience gained here as the sport continues to develop its profile across the region.