Teqball players aiming high
Athletes of unique sport, blending football and table tennis, aim to attract more people to the game, Xing Wen reports.
On Aug 19, the 2023 Beijing Teqball Challenge, held by the Beijing Olympic City Development Association and the International Teqball Federation, wrapped up at the Juyongguan Great Wall area in Beijing.
Zhang emerged as the champion in the men's singles category and, alongside his partner Sun Zhixu, clinched the men's doubles title.
Gao Yunchao, the vice-director of BODA, says that through high-level competition, they aim to pique the interest of the general public in Teqball, enrich the cultural lives of citizens and foster a strong atmosphere of sports participation.
On the following day, at the same site, a Teqball sports carnival took place, promoting the sport through interactive games and activities, engaging participants in the sport.
As a top Teqball player in China, 39-year-old Zhang began his journey in this niche sport four years ago. He had nurtured a passion for playing football since his childhood, but as he got older, he found that demands of competitive football games were becoming challenging.
"In contrast, Teqball's requirements for age and physical fitness are more forgiving, which allows me to extend the enjoyment of competitive sports well into my middle age," he says.
