India’s Declan Gonsalves and Mohamed Anas Beg face challenges in the men’s doubles teqball event at the Asian Games 2026 after suffering defeats to Vietnam and South Korea, but they remain hopeful through the repechage route.
India’s journey in the men’s doubles teqball event at the Asian Games 2026 has encountered significant hurdles, as Declan Gonsalves and Mohamed Anas Imran Beg experienced back-to-back defeats in their Group B matches held in Nagoya. The duo lost 0-2 to Vietnam before facing another 0-2 setback against the Republic of Korea. Despite these losses, their campaign is not over, as they still have a chance to advance through the repechage route available in the competition.
In their opening match against Vietnam, Gonsalves and Beg struggled to find their rhythm, losing the sets 10-12 and 8-12 at the Nagoya City Higashi Sports Center. The Indian pair, who previously made history by securing India’s first-ever teqball medal at the 2024 World Championships, were hoping to build on that success but faced tough competition.
The second match against South Korea proved equally challenging, with the Indian team falling short again with scores of 4-12 and 7-12. These results have raised questions about their chances in the tournament, but the repechage pathway offers a glimmer of hope for Gonsalves and Beg.
The men’s doubles competition includes a repechage option, allowing teams another opportunity to reach the knockout stages after the group phase. The repechage matches are scheduled for later today, September 17, and the outcome will depend on the final group standings and the repechage draw. Thus, Gonsalves and Beg are not yet eliminated from contention.
Entering the Asian Games, the Indian pair brought a wealth of international experience, having previously claimed bronze in men’s doubles at the 2024 World Championships. Their performance in Nagoya, however, has been a stark contrast to their earlier success.
Teqball, which is making its debut at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya 2026, combines elements of football and table tennis played on a curved table. Players are permitted to use their feet, head, and body to return the ball, but not their hands or arms. Each match is played in a best-of-three sets format, with 12 points required to win a set.
In addition to competing in men’s doubles, Mohamed Anas Beg is also set to participate in mixed doubles alongside Quimcy Dsouza, who is competing in the women’s singles event. The stakes are high for the Indian team as they look to navigate the repechage route and keep their hopes alive in the tournament.
Fans can catch all the action of the Asian Games 2026 on the Sony Sports Network channels or through the Sony LIV app, ensuring that supporters can follow Gonsalves and Beg as they aim for redemption in the upcoming repechage matches.
As the day unfolds, all eyes will be on the Indian pair to see if they can turn their fortunes around and continue their quest for a medal in teqball at the Asian Games.
According to The Bridge, the repechage matches are critical for Gonsalves and Beg as they seek to advance in the competition.