At the Nagoya City Higashi Sports Center in Japan, Indonesian teqball athlete Sumaya captured a historic silver medal in the women’s singles event at the Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026. According to reporting from Kompas TV, Sumaya concluded her campaign in second place following a hard-fought three-set battle against Myanmar’s Khin Hnin Wai in the final on Sunday, September 20, 2026.
A Historic Breakthrough for Indonesian Teqball
The achievement marks a significant milestone for Indonesian sports. Teqball made its official debut as a medal event at the Asian Games 2026, making Sumaya the very first athlete from Indonesia to secure a medal in the discipline. The 21-year-old athlete reached the podium after roughly two years of specialized training, having previously competed in sepak takraw, as noted by Kompas TV.
The journey to the final demanded resilience through a demanding tournament bracket. Sumaya opened her Group B campaign by defeating Lebanon’s Kamar Dandal in straight sets, 12-9 and 12-11. In her second group fixture, she faced Khin Hnin Wai, dropping a closely contested match 10-12, 8-12. She rebounded in her final group match by overcoming Kirgizstan’s Aidana Otorbaeva 6-12, 12-6, 12-6, finishing the group stage as the runner-up.
Navigating the Repechage and Semifinal Obstacles
To keep her medal hopes alive, Sumaya advanced through the repechage round, where she defeated Cambodia’s Koemyean Dy 12-8, 12-7 to book her place in the semifinals. In the final four, she met India’s Quimcy Joaquim Dsouza.
According to match records, Sumaya dropped the opening set 7-12 before staging a comeback. She claimed the second set 12-9 and sealed the semifinal victory by taking the deciding third set 12-7, securing a 2-1 match win and guaranteeing at least a silver medal for the Indonesian delegation.
A Dramatic Three-Set Final Clash
The gold-medal match on Sunday afternoon delivered an intense, emotional showdown against group-stage rival Khin Hnin Wai. According to coverage from IDN Times, Sumaya opened the first game with sharp aggression, controlling the curved table to secure a narrow 12-10 win.
The momentum shifted in the second game as the Myanmar athlete pressed the attack. Despite a spirited chase from Sumaya that narrowed the gap to 6-8, Khin Hnin Wai maintained her composure to take the second game 12-8, leveling the match at one set apiece.
The decisive third set featured long, physically demanding rallies. However, Khin Hnin Wai responded with three consecutive points to seize a 9-7 advantage and ultimately closed out the match 12-9, leaving Sumaya with the silver medal.
Despite missing out on the top step of the podium, Sumaya’s resilient run earned widespread appreciation and established a firm foundation for teqball’s growth in Indonesia.
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