The 2026 Asian Games, held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, kicked off on September 19, 2026, with 20,000 athletes competing across 43 disciplines, including teqball. The event features global stars like tennis player Alexandra Eala and diver Quan Hongchan, alongside emerging talents such as Indian teqball player Quimcy D’Souza, who is just one win away from securing an Asian Games medal on debut.
The Scale of the 2026 Asian Games
The 2026 Asian Games feature just shy of 20,000 athletes competing for 469 medals across 43 disciplines in Nagoya, Aichi and Japan at large compared to Paris 2024, which saw around 10,000 athletes. With 469 medals up for grabs across disciplines like gymnastics, badminton, and eSports, the event is set to draw massive global attention. Broadcast rights are distributed across multiple regions, with free-to-air options available in Singapore, South Korea, Vietnam, China, and Malaysia. For viewers outside these areas, services like Willow TV and NordVPN offer access to live streams, though the latter is recommended for bypassing geo-restrictions.
Quimcy D’Souza’s Path to History
How to watch Asian Games 2026
Quimcy D’Souza, a seven-time national champion and founder of the Teqball Club of Bangalore, has emerged as a pivotal figure in India’s teqball contingent. After defeating top-seeded Yuina Sakamoto in a three-set thriller (10-12, 12-11, 13-11) and topping her group stage, D’Souza advanced directly to the women’s singles semifinals. Her journey from athletics to teqball, including a career-high World No. 24 ranking, underscores her role in popularizing the sport in India. A victory in the semifinals would mark a medal on debut.
Broadcast Details and Viewer Access
Viewers in India can watch the Asian Games on the Sony Sports Network via Sony LIV, while international audiences may rely on services like Willow TV, available through Sling TV plans starting at $10 per month. For those outside designated regions, NordVPN is highlighted as a tool to access broadcasts. The schedule includes high-profile events such as the opening ceremony on September 19 and the triathlon, modern pentathlon, and road cycling competitions throughout the day. In the US, Willow TV has secured a deal to show over 700 hours of coverage, launching three temporary pop-up channels—Asian Games 1, 2, and 3—for the event. In Canada, Willow TV is also available via cable or OTT streamers like Sling from $10 per month. The 2026 Asian Games have not yet picked up a broadcasting partner in the UK or Australia, though viewers in Singapore, South Korea, Vietnam, China or Malaysia can use a VPN to access local broadcasts while abroad.
Teqball’s Significance
D’Souza’s participation highlights the sport’s growing global appeal, particularly in India, where she has worked to build grassroots infrastructure. Her semifinal clash against Cambodia’s Kemyean Dy, which she won 12-9, 12-7, demonstrates the competitive level of the event. As the sport gains traction, D’Souza’s potential medal could inspire a new generation of athletes in India and beyond. Teqball is one of six sports making its debut at the quadrennial event.
Who is Quimcy D'souza? The teqball star just a
Additional Athletes and Events
The 2026 Asian Games feature 43 disciplines, including gymnastics, badminton, and eSports, with world and Olympic champions such as gymnasts Zhang Boheng, Carlos Yulo, and Zou Jingyuan; badminton stars An Se-young, PV Sindhu, and Yamaguchi Akane; and diver Quan Hongchan. The Indian men’s and women’s cricket teams are also set to compete, while Sri Lankan world No1 javelin thrower Rumesh Pathirage faces challenges with damaged spears. The viral South Korean shooter Kim Ye-ji is not competing, and tennis star Qinwen Zheng has opted to play in the China Open instead, leaving Eala as the biggest name in the draw.
Schedule Highlights
The Asian Games 2026 schedule includes the opening ceremony on September 19, followed by events such as the triathlon, wushu, and road cycling. On September 20, the schedule features the men’s and women’s triathlon finals at 12.30am BST, wushu men’s Changquan final at 1am, road cycling women’s ITT at 1am, and modern pentathlon women’s Individual final at 3am. The event runs through Sunday, October 4, with daily competitions across multiple sports.
Player Backgrounds and Context
Quimcy D’Souza, a test engineer for Decathlon in Bengaluru, is also the founder of the Teqball Club of Bangalore. She began her sporting journey in athletics, representing Maharashtra in mid-distance running in 2014, before transitioning to Under-19 football and eventually teqball. D’Souza was the first Indian female athlete to represent the country internationally in teqball and achieved a career-high World No. 24 ranking. At the 2025 Teqball World Championships in Romania, she finished ninth overall. She is part of India’s three-member Teqball contingent, competing in women’s singles and mixed doubles alongside Mohamed Anas.