The Fédération Internationale de Teqball (FITEQ) vowed to support and develop teqball in the Philippines, the fast-growing sport that is now on the official programs of major international competitions.
Teqball, played as singles or doubles (two or three each side) on a curved table, combines elements of football and table tennis. Players hit the ball with any body part except hands and arms. It was invented in Hungary in 2014.
According to rules, a player is not allowed to touch the ball with the same body part consecutively while a maximum of three touches is allowed before the ball is returned.
In doubles, there is also a three-touch maximum and each player must have at least one touch.
A match consists of best-of-three sets, with a set played until a player or team reaches 20 points.
FITEQ president Dr. Victor Huszár met with Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham Tolentino in Makati City on April 2.
Huszár said FITEQ will strengthen the sport in the country through the Philippine Teqball Federation (PITEQ), headed by Victor Yap.
“Teqball has gained outstanding popularity recently and it’s one sport that Filipino athletes could potentially dominate,” Tolentino said in a news release Sunday.
POC secretary-general Wharton Chan joined Tolentino in welcoming Huszár, who was accompanied by PITEQ secretary-general Peter Paul Soliman and executive director Jovy Mamawal.
Teqball was played at the Thailand Southeast Asian Games in December 2025.
It is also on the program of the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan in September and the 6th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in November.
At the Asian Youth Games in November last year, Filipinos Crystal Carino and Nicole Tabucol bagged the girls’ doubles bronze.
The FITEQ has its headquarters in Budapest and counts 124 member federations, including 36 countries in Asia.
The Teqball World Cup (now World Championships) has been held annually since 2017, except in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. (PNA)