Why 'Sports' Trended in India: Teqball's Asian Games Debut and Quimcy Dsouza's Run

On 18 September 2026, the general term "sports" experienced a sudden surge in search interest across India. According to Google Trends, the term saw approximately 5,000 searches with a 300% growth spike. This broad interest was largely driven by the introduction of Teqball at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and the unexpected success of Indian athlete Quimcy Joaquim Dsouza.

Quimcy Dsouza's Quest for a Historic Medal

The spike in search volume coincided with 24-year-old Quimcy Joaquim Dsouza moving India closer to its first-ever medal in this new discipline. Competing in the women's singles event, Dsouza emerged as a top contender after a strong group stage. She notably upset the top-seeded Japanese player, Yuina Sakamoto, with a 2-1 victory, and followed it up by defeating Cambodia's Koemyean DY 2-0 to top Group A (PTI via Rediff).

As of 18 September 2026, Dsouza had advanced to the semifinals to face Indonesia's Sumaya. A victory in that match would guarantee a medal, while a loss would still leave a path to a bronze medal. In the mixed doubles category, the duo of Quimcy and Mohammed Anas Imran Beg also remained in the hunt for a podium finish via the repechage round after a quarterfinal loss to Vietnam.

What is Teqball? A Hybrid Sport Explained

Teqball is a fast-paced hybrid sport created in Hungary in 2014. It essentially merges the foot-skills of football with the strategic layout and scoring of table tennis. The game is played on a specialized curved table that separates players with a transparent plexiglass divider.

Core Gameplay and Rules

• Equipment: The game uses a standard size five football.
• Physical Constraints: Players are forbidden from using their hands or arms.
• Touch Limit: A side can touch the ball a maximum of three times before returning it.
• Technicality: To prevent repetitive play, a player cannot use the same body part twice in a row.

Teqball's Global Rise and Asian Games Debut

The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games marked the continental debut of Teqball, appearing alongside five other new sports: Padel, MMA, Surfing, BMX Freestyle, and Virtual Taekwondo. The sport's growth is rapid, with The Guardian reporting that the international federation is targeting Olympic inclusion by 2032.

Currently, Thailand is viewed as the dominant force in the sport. This is largely attributed to the influence of Sepak takraw (foot volleyball), a traditional Southeast Asian sport. Thai athletes often adapt the acrobatic bicycle kicks and high-impact smashes from Sepak takraw to gain a competitive edge in Teqball.