Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat led the opening ceremony at the training event, held at Piboon Sawasdee Municipal School off Damrong Rd in Phuket Town on Thursday and Friday (Aug 29-30)
Present for the occasion were a host of high ranking officials, including Phuket Provincial Court Chief Judge Kriangsak Rodphanchu, Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pol Maj Gen Sinlert Sukhum, Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO) President Rewat Areerob, Phuket Town Deputy Mayor Suphot La-ongphet and Thanusak Phuengdet, Chairman of JD Pool Co Ltd who also serves as Honorary Consul of Hungary in Phuket.
Also present were Ratchadaporn O-in, from Phuket’s Tourism and Sports office; Damrong Chaisena, Director of the Phuket Provincial office of the Sports Authority of Thailand; Thammarat Wongcharoenyos, President of the Phuket Sports Association; and Prachan Pajanthabut, President of the newly formed Phuket Provincial Teqball Club.
Mr Prachan announced that the Phuket Provincial Teqball Club, in collaboration with the Phuket Sports Association and the Hungarian Consulate in Phuket, has launched a project to develop sports personnel, particularly in teqball.
The ‘Basic Teqball Coach’ course held this week included both theoretical and practical sessions, he explained.
The primary goal was to enhance the knowledge and coaching skills of teqball coaches in Phuket, following the curriculum of the Teqball Association of Thailand.
“This initiative aims to develop teqball athletes at both the provincial and national levels,’ Mr Prachan said.
GROWING POPULARITY
Teqball is one of the world’s fastest growing sports and is used daily by world-class football teams and star players. Proponents of the sport hope to see teqball included at the 2028 Olympic Games
A football-based sport played on a specially-curved table, teqball is attracting a new generation of athletes. The sport was created in Hungary in 2012 by three Hungarian, Gábor Borsányi, György Gattyán and Viktor Huszar. The governing body of Teqball is the International Teqball Federation (FITEQ) having 150 national sports federations around the world.
Teqball is played between two (singles) or four players (doubles), irrespective of gender. The sport follows a points-based scoring format and can be played on various surfaces such as sand, acrylic or indoors.
Players are allowed a maximum of three touches before returning the ball to the opponent. No physical contact is allowed between the players, or between the players and the table, helping to eliminate the risk of impact injuries.
Governor Sophon emphasised that the training course was a valuable effort to promote teqball, a sport that is gaining popularity for its ability to build knowledge and develop coaching potential in Phuket and surrounding areas.
“By improving the skills and standards of teqball coaches, the event supports the development of athletes from the provincial to the national level. It also boosts sports tourism, contributing to Phuket’s economy and supporting its status as a sports city,” Governor Sophon said
Following the opening ceremony, Amb Sipos presented 15 teqball tables to the Governor to further support the growth of teqball in the province.