By Team INVC | INVC NEWS
NAGOYA, Japan | September 19, 2026 — India’s Quimcy Joaquim Dsouza remains within touching distance of Asian Games history after losing a hard-fought women’s singles Teqball semifinal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026.
The 24-year-old Indian started strongly against Indonesia’s Ima Sumaya and took the opening set 12-7. However, Sumaya fought back to win the next two sets 12-9 and 12-7, completing a 2-1 semifinal victory.
The defeat ended Dsouza’s gold-medal challenge, but her medal dream remains very much alive.
She will compete for bronze on Sunday, September 20. Even more significantly, Dsouza has two opportunities to reach the podium—one in women’s singles and another in mixed doubles alongside Mohamed Anas Imran Beg.
One Victory Could Create Teqball History for India
Teqball is making its Asian Games debut at Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
That makes Dsouza’s campaign particularly significant. A bronze-medal victory would put India on the Asian Games podium in the sport during its very first appearance at the continental event.
Dsouza has already emerged as one of India’s standout performers during the early stages of the Games.
Her journey to the semifinal included victories over highly rated opponents and showed that India can challenge established Teqball nations despite the sport still being relatively new in the country.
Quimcy Took First Set Before Sumaya Fought Back
The semifinal began perfectly for the Indian.
Dsouza controlled the opening exchanges and took the first set 12-7 against Indonesia’s Sumaya.
However, the momentum shifted in the second set.
Sumaya responded with a 12-9 victory to level the contest before closing the deciding set 12-7.
The 1-2 defeat denied Dsouza a place in the gold-medal match, but the tournament format keeps her in contention for bronze.
Giant-Killing Run Put Quimcy in Spotlight
Dsouza had already attracted attention before reaching the semifinal.
During the group stage, she produced a dramatic comeback against Japan’s highly rated Yuina Sakamoto.
After losing the opening set 10-12, the Indian fought back to win 12-11 and 13-11.
She then defeated Cambodia’s Koemyean Dy in straight sets to finish on top of her group and secure direct passage to the semifinal.
That impressive run transformed Dsouza into one of India’s surprise medal prospects at the Games.
Two Bronze Medals on the Line on Sunday
Sunday could become the biggest day of Dsouza’s sporting career.
Her first opportunity will come in the women’s singles bronze-medal contest.
The Asian Games schedule lists the women’s singles bronze matches for Sunday morning, with Dsouza preparing for one final push toward the podium.
Shortly afterwards, she will return to action with Mohamed Anas Imran Beg in the mixed doubles bronze-medal event.
That gives India two separate opportunities to win a Teqball medal through Dsouza on the same day.
Mixed Doubles Pair Also Remains in Medal Hunt
Dsouza and Beg faced a difficult route in mixed doubles.
The Indian pair suffered defeat in the quarterfinal stage but stayed alive through the repechage route.
Their recovery means they will now contest a bronze-medal match on Sunday.
For Dsouza, the schedule will demand both physical endurance and mental strength because she could potentially contest two decisive medal matches within a short period.
Who Is Quimcy Dsouza?
Dsouza’s rise is unusual even by elite-sport standards.
She previously competed in athletics and football before discovering Teqball after an injury interrupted her football journey.
She began playing the sport seriously in 2022.
Within four years, she became a seven-time national champion and earned the opportunity to represent India at the Asian Games.
The Olympic Council of Asia highlighted her story before the Games, with Dsouza explaining that representing India internationally had been a childhood dream.
Now she stands one match away from converting that dream into an Asian Games medal.
What Exactly Is Teqball?
Teqball combines elements of football and table tennis.
Players compete across a specially curved table while controlling and returning a football without using their hands or arms.
Athletes can use their feet, head, chest, thighs and shoulders, but the rules restrict repeated use of the same body part.
The sport demands football-style ball control, quick reactions, flexibility and tactical awareness.
The Olympic Council of Asia officially added Teqball to the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 medal programme earlier this year.
Sunday Could Be Historic for Indian Teqball
India entered these Asian Games hoping to expand its medal presence beyond traditional sports.
Dsouza now represents exactly that opportunity.
A podium finish would not merely add another medal to India’s tally. It could introduce millions of Indian sports fans to a discipline that remains relatively unfamiliar in the country.
After coming within one match of the final, Dsouza now has to reset quickly.
Gold is gone, but history remains available.
And on Sunday, Quimcy Dsouza will get two chances to bring an Asian Games Teqball medal home for India.
