Teqball Challenger Cup 2026 Kicks Off in Peshawar -

TIMES REPORT

PESHAWAR: The Teqball Challenger Cup 2026 officially commenced at the National Teqball Academy, Peshawar Sports Complex. The championship is being organized by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Teqball Association in collaboration with the Directorate General of Sports Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Pakistan Teqball Federation.
The tournament features competitions in Professional Singles, Amateur Singles, and Women’s Singles categories. Amateur players from various districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are participating enthusiastically, while the Professional Singles event has attracted Pakistan’s leading nationally and internationally ranked Teqball players, making it one of the country’s strongest national championships.
The opening ceremony was inaugurated by Additional Deputy Commissioner Peshawar and President of the Bannu Division Teqball Association, Asghar Surrani, who officially declared the championship open by cutting the ribbon. Also present on the occasion were Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Teqball Association Vice Presidents Shafiq Ahmad and Akhtar Rasool, along with PRO Yasir Islam.
Addressing the ceremony, Founder of Teqball Pakistan, Mian Absar Ali, welcomed players from Peshawar, Khyber, Bannu, Swat, Mardan, Kohat, Chitral, and Swabi. He said the rapidly growing popularity of Teqball across the province reflects the sport’s promising future. He added that the increasing participation of young athletes would further strengthen Pakistan’s presence on the international stage.
The opening day’s Professional Singles matches produced exciting contests. Hassan (Peshawar) defeated Zia (Mardan) 2-1 in a thrilling three-set encounter to qualify for the next round. Bilal (Khyber) overcame Ahmad (Peshawar), while Qaiser (Kohat) defeated Nabeel (Bannu). In the Women’s Singles event, Safa beat Sadaf, while Rebecca secured victory over Nida to advance.
The championship is considered an important platform for preparing Pakistan’s national team and identifying emerging talent ahead of major international events, including the Asian Games Japan 2026, the 6th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games Riyadh 2026, and the Teqball World Championships 2026.
Speaking on the occasion, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Teqball Association Vice President and CEO of United Consultants, Shafiq Ahmad, reaffirmed the association’s commitment to supporting Pakistani players in international competitions. He also thanked One Life Beverages Pakistan, the tournament’s Official Refreshment Partner, for providing quality facilities and refreshments to players and officials.
The Teqball Challenger Cup 2026 will continue over the coming days, with the country’s top players competing for honors while selectors continue evaluating emerging talent for future international competitions.