Gonsalves and Anas were beaten 10-12, 8-12 by Vietnam and 4-12, 7-12 by South Korea in the men’s doubles, ending India’s teqball run at the Nagoya Asian Games.
The turning point came in the second set against Vietnam when the ball ricocheted too sharply off the table’s curve, leaving the pair scrambling to keep up. “We were still finding the rhythm,” Anas said, “but the Vietnamese kept dictating the pace.”
Support was modest but spirited – six Indians, including former shooter Anjali Bhagwat and the Gonsalves family, cheered from the sidelines. “Seeing them on the world stage feels like a dream,” Quimcy Dsouza, who will team up with Anas in mixed doubles, added.
Technical director Nihar Shah sees a bright future for teqball in the Northeast, where many players come from a sepaktakraw background. “The Asian Games exposure will spark more talent and facilities,” he said.
With the men’s doubles out, Anas now turns his focus to the mixed doubles slot with Quimcy, while the women’s singles event keeps the sport’s momentum alive.
Next up for the Indian teqball squad is the mixed‑doubles heat on Thursday, a chance to steal a medal and keep the country’s first‑time participation story alive.