TABLE tennis played with a twist—by using one’s feet?
The Embassy of Hungary introduced its own version of table tennis called “teqball” during the EuroVillage last weekend in Capitol Commons Park, Pasig City. It is a football-based sport played on a specially-built curved table, and is currently attracting a new generation of athletes and enthusiasts called “teqers.”
Created in Hungary in 2012, teqball is a gender-equitable game, as it can be 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. It allows players a maximum of three touches before returning the ball to the opponent; so if one can juggle a football three times, he or she will excel at it.
On the other hand, mölkky—a Finnish throwing game with characteristics similar to bowling, kubb and pétanque—was also demonstrated. It was created by the company Lahden Paikka in 1996 and was probably inspired by the Finnish word pölkky, which means “block of wood.”
Mölkky requires both skill and precision, but also a strategic mindset. Today tournaments are played the world over. There is also a Mölkky World Championship organized yearly, with around 200 teams of four to six players competing.
Apart from these exciting sports demonstrations, delectable food and drinks from the European Union were put up on sale: from bread and rye, waffles, sausages, to dairy products and beer. Special concerts were also staged.
The EuroVillage offered an exciting and dynamic sample of the EU’s culture, arts, music, food and gastronomy, products, crafts, languages, sports—all in two days and in one hub. The best novelties from Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Austria, Romania and Finland were showcased during the “miniature EU.” Aligned with the bloc’s solidarity, it also featured products and crafts from Ukraine.