The teqball league champions with their trophy at KL Gateway Mall Central Piazza.
THE inaugural Liga Teqball Malaysia (LTM) 2023 came to a close with the DBKL Hunters emerging victorious after two days of intense battling at the KL Gateway Mall Central Piazza.
Offering the grand prize of RM8,000 and the privilege of lifting the LTM trophy for the first-time, the tournament also served as the selection for the Malaysian team to compete at the 6th edition of the World Teqball Championships.
Going up against seven other teams, DBKL Hunters faced the Negri Sembilan Stags in the finals that went on until the fifth and final match.
The opening clash saw Mohd Hanifah Abd Wahid gain the lead for the Stags against the Hunters’ Mohd Ridhwan Zamri in the men’s singles.
Siti Asnidah Zamri then levelled things in the women’s singles after she won in straight sets against Nurul Syafiqah Jafri.
The third match had the duo of Muhammad Faris Farizal Zukeri and Muhammad Eizlan Rakhli Abd Rahman take the lead for the Hunters, but the Stags’ women’s pair of Nurul Syafiqah Jafri and Siti Norzubaidah Che Ab Wahab made it 2-2, forcing the final into the mixed-doubles showdown.
Spectators at the KL Gateway Mall were treated to a classy show as Muhammad Eizlan Rakhli Abd Rahman and Siti Asnidah Zamri won 12-4, 12-10 and sealed the victory for the Hunters against Mohd Aslam Ahmad Suhaimi and Siti Nurzubaidah Che Ab Wahab.
Malaysia Teqball Association (MTA) president K.J. Siva was thrilled with the turnout for the debut tournament, and said: “I am pleased with the overall execution of the tournament.
“MTA is only five years old and it is great to already have its very own league for our country’s players to showcase their immense talent and skill.
“This also opens the door for more teqball competitions around the country, allowing more avenues for players to enter and thrive in the sport.
“I hope the team heading to the World Teqball Championships play their best in Bangkok. With the right training and guidance, we can fly high on the international stage and bring glory to Malaysia.”
Teqball is a football-based sport, played with a regular football on a specially-curved table (the TEQ table). The sport was invented by Hungarians and football enthusiasts Gabor Borsanyi, Viktor Huszar and György Gattyán in 2014.
