Indian Teqball Player Dsouza Falls Short in Asiad Semifinal, Fights for Bronze

Dsouza's challenge faltered after a strong opening as she went down 12-7, 9-12, 7-12 against her Indonesian opponent in what proved to be a gruelling three-game affair. Despite demonstrating control in the opening set, where she effectively utilised the curved table and executed sharp diagonal smashes with her feet, Dsouza was unable to maintain momentum through the remaining games.

The 28-year-old's journey into Teqball remains an unconventional one. Originally competing at state level in football and in 1,500m running events, Dsouza was introduced to the sport after witnessing Brazilian football icon Ronaldinho demonstrate Teqball skills on social media. The sport's football-inspired mechanics and prohibition on hand use resonated with her athletic background.

Teqball, played on a distinctive curved table, shares similarities with sepak takraw in its fundamental rules, with both sports requiring athletes to control and strike the ball using feet, legs, and torso rather than hands. Dsouza has since established herself as a competitive presence on Asia's Teqball circuit and will now aim for a medal finish in the bronze medal match at the Asian Games here.