Two Asian Games medals in sight as Quimcy D’Souza, one of the pioneers of teqball in India, leads charge

NAGOYA: Quimcy D’Souza, one of the pioneers of teqball in India, stormed into the semifinals of the sport that is making its Asian Games debut here.Quimcy will face Indonesia’s Sumaya in Saturday’s semifinal, and a win will ensure the first-ever medal for India in teqball, a combination of football and table-tennis played over a curved table.The world No. 24 pulled off a major upset in her Group A women’s singles opener, defeating the top-seed, world No. 7 Yuina Sakamoto of Japan 2-1. After losing the first set 10-12, Quimcy fought back to take the next two 12-11, 13-11 to win in 43 minutes. She followed that up with a 12-9, 12-7 win over Cambodia’s DY Koemyean in just 24 minutes to book her place in the last four.Quimcy had earned a bye in the quarterfinals by virtue of topping her group. If the 24-year-old loses her semifinal to the Indonesian, she will still have a shot at a bronze on Sunday.Quimcy and Mohammed Anas Beg, meanwhile, lost their mixed doubles quarterfinals but won the repechage round 2-0 against Philippines and will now fight for the bronze.The Indian duo lost 0-2 (7-12 10-12) against Vietnam’s Hoang Minh Tan Nguyen and Gia Nghi Trinh in the quarterfinals.Bengaluru-based Quimcy was first drawn to the sport after watching videos of former Brazil football star Ronaldinho playing it. She quit her Mumbai job and moved to B’luru to set up a teqball facility, where she also coaches. “All the four years I have been playing the sport, I’ve only been explaining what it is. But the Asian Games is a huge opportunity for us,” Quimcy told TOI on Thursday.Manu, Toor to be flagbearersShooter Manu Bhaker and shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor have been named flag bearers of the Indian contingent for Saturday’s opening ceremony. For Toor, it will be another moment of pride after he successfully defended his Asian Games title in Hangzhou. “I’m very proud to be named the flag bearer. It is a moment of great pride for me to be named a flag bearer along with an Olympic medallist (Bhaker),” said ToorGet the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.