The President of the newly formed European Teqball Federation hailed the sport’s inclusion at the European Games 2023 as the competition’s first gold medallists were crowned in Krakow’s main square.

European Olympic Committees President Spyros Capralos and Coordination Commission Chair Hasan Arat were in attendance as Romanians won both gold medals on Thursday. Kinga Barabasi won the women’s competition before men’s world No1 Apor Gyoergydeak saw off home favourite Adrian Duszak in the men’s final.

The new European federation was launched to coincide with the Games, where the European Championships are being held, and their President Jawad El Hajri believes that teqball being one of eight new sports on the programme in Poland shows that the sport’s growth will continue.

El Hajri said: “Being here at the European Games is concrete proof that we are on the right track. By creating the continental federation, it shows that we are changing the game.

“Now the development of sport will be organic and I am really happy to represent all the European countries who have worked together to make this dream concrete.

“We are not going to only focus on the elite, but more on the grass roots and the youth. They are the future of Teqball. We are here to help the growth of Teqball in the European continent.”

Though Polish star and world No3 Duszak was unable to overcome Gyoergydeak in the final and win a gold medal at his Games, he was delighted to play in front of a packed home crowd.

Duszak said: “This is the biggest Teqball event in Europe. We are happy to compete in front of our own fans. I was impressed by the athletes’ village where we live and I felt like it was an event with a lot of momentum.”

FITEQ General Secretary László Vajda also thanked the organisers for giving Teqball the opportunity be played in the square and promised to leave a great legacy in Poland.

He said: “We are more than grateful to the organising committee, to the municipality and to the leadership of the city who have allowed us to occupy the main square. We promise to not only deliver amazing Teqball in the main square, but we will look after the main square and leave an amazing legacy after these games.”

Teqball will continue today and Saturday at the games with mixed, men’s and women’s doubles still to be played.

2023.06.29 KRAKOW
IGRZYSKA EUROPEJSKIE 2023 TEQBALL
NZ DUSZAK ADRIAN THOMSEN Brian Mengel