Minh Tan and Gia Nghi bring historic bronze to Vietnamese Teqball at Asiad 20

The curved table in the far corner of the teqball court on the morning of September 20 became a historic spot for Vietnamese sport. Nguyen Hoang Minh Tan and Trinh Gia Nghi entered the mixed doubles bronze medal match with nothing to lose. Their opponents, Dsouza Quimcy Joaquim and Beg Mohamed Anas Imran of India, had physical advantages and international experience. But after two sets, Vietnam won 2-0. Vietnam's first medal at Asiad 20 was confirmed in a sport still unfamiliar to domestic fans. Teqball originated in Hungary more than a decade ago, combining football skills with table tennis-style play. Players cannot use their hands; the ball must bounce on the curved table, each side has up to three touches, and no player can touch twice in a row. This demands close control with chest, thigh, head and feet in tight spaces. In doubles, teammates must rotate continuously and keep a stable rhythm. One mistimed movement can lead to a handball or an out-of-bounds error. Because of that strictness, Minh Tan and Gia Nghi's medal carries great value. In the match against India, coordination made the difference. Minh Tan received difficult passes, kept the rhythm in the middle area and created room for Gia Nghi to strike powerfully. One-touch combinations were executed quickly, leaving the Indian pair constantly on the back foot. When India pushed forward, Minh Tan dropped back to cover while Gia Nghi shifted from defence to attack within one touch. That style helped Vietnam control the decisive moments. Notably, teqball made its Asian Games debut at this edition. Vietnam took part with a thin squad, no dedicated training centre and little mention among medal contenders. Yet Minh Tan and Gia Nghi overcame the qualifying rounds and beat higher-rated opponents. The bronze medal is both a reward for individual effort and a signal of teqball's potential in Vietnam with long-term investment. Vietnam's joy did not last long. Right after Minh Tan and Gia Nghi's match, Ba Truong Giang and Le Anh Khoa entered the men's doubles bronze medal match against Iraq. They started confidently with strong serves, but the Iraqi pair read the ball better in high-bounce situations. Despite chasing the score, the Vietnamese duo lost. That result put Vietnamese teqball fourth in men's doubles but did not overshadow the historic bronze won earlier. While teqball brought joy from a new discipline, karate continued to confirm Vietnam's standing in Asia. On the same morning, Bui Ngoc Nhi won bronze in the women's individual kata. She opened with a 0-5 loss to Japan's Ono Maho. That was a significant psychological test, because kata demands total focus on every movement, breath and expression. Nhi cleared the pressure, beat South Korea's Choi Haeun 5-0, then defeated Singapore's Leong Wai Yee Shannon 4-1. Two wins in a row secured the bronze. This achievement came from Nhi's steady progress. At SEA Games 33, she left a mark in Vietnam's karate team. Asian youth events helped her gain experience and become familiar with international judging. At Asiad 20, this medal rewards her constant effort. Her journey is not over. She and her teammates enter the women's team kata quarterfinal against Nepal on September 22. If they stay consistent, another medal is possible. After nearly half a day of competition, China lead the Asiad 20 medal table with 2 golds, 4 silvers and 1 bronze. Lin Xinyu won China's first gold in the women's triathlon. Hosts Japan are second with 2 golds and 3 bronzes. Macao, South Korea and Kazakhstan follow with 1 gold each. Vietnam are ninth with 2 bronzes. For Vietnamese fans, two bronze medals on the morning of September 20 were a surprise. Before Asiad 20 began, most attention was on traditional sports. Teqball and karate reminded everyone that Vietnam can win medals from unexpected places. The teqball bronze was created by quiet preparation, ball control sharpened through years of grassroots football and quick reading of play. But the reality is that Vietnamese teqball still faces gaps in youth training and facilities. Without a systematic selection process and a specialised training centre, a single medal will not create sustainability. The story of Minh Tan and Gia Nghi should therefore be placed in a long-term path. Karate faces a similar issue. Bui Ngoc Nhi is in good form, but building the next generation requires more than one outstanding athlete. The individual kata medal will mean more if the team uses this momentum to develop squad depth. Technically, kata demands patience, discipline and control of emotions. Success like Nhi's comes only after long, unglamorous training. Asiad 20 still lies ahead. With two bronzes on the first day, Vietnam can believe in a successful Games. Teqball brought a new story, karate maintained stability, and other sports still have opportunities. The biggest question now is whether individual efforts will be extended by proper investment strategy. Medals can come from individual talent, but sporting sustainability always comes from a collective foundation.