Nagoya: When Lee Jun-suk discovered in February that teqball would be included in the Asian Games in Japan this fall, he made the decision to fully dedicate himself to securing a spot in the competition, even if it required leaving his day job. The 27-year-old had been employed as a contract worker at LG Electronics Inc., with a promotion to permanent status on the horizon, but instead opted to become a full-time teqball player.
According to Yonhap News Agency, after completing his first half-day of competition at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Lee expressed that exchanging a stable job for the honor of representing his country was well worth it. "As an athlete, my biggest dream was to put on this national team uniform, and when I learned about teqball joining the Asian Games, I didn't really worry about making a living," Lee said. "Even if my career gets put on hold by a few months, I could always start again. But competing at the Asian Games was a chance to realize my dream. I wanted to make it happen no matter what."
Teqball, contested on a curved table, is a mix of football, table tennis, and sepaktakraw. Players can use any part of their body except their hands and arms to hit the ball, which must be returned with no more than three touches without using the same body part consecutively. The sport has attracted athletes with a football background, and professional footballers have been known to play teqball during training.
Lee, a former midfielder who played in South Korea's fourth division, credits his football experience for aiding his teqball footwork. "I don't think I have ever worked harder in my life than when I was preparing for the Asian Games," he remarked. "It would have been great if I had made the national football team. But I paved my own path to get here and I am so honored to represent the country in teqball."
Lee advanced to the quarterfinals after winning all five of his preliminary matches early Thursday, with semifinals scheduled for Saturday and the final on Sunday. He expressed a dual desire to win a medal and elevate the sport's profile, noting, "When I was chosen for the national team, I felt a little embarrassed. I thought I was picked only because there was nobody else to go. So it is a humbling experience to be here representing our country."
Training conditions for Lee and his teammates-Kim Eun-jun and Jang Eun-sun in mixed doubles, and Lee Tae-been in men's doubles-were less than ideal until June this year. They often practiced in a public park, with the monsoon season forcing them to seek refuge in nearby cafes during rainstorms.
"If we can all do well here and make teqball more famous, then the next generation of players should be able to train in a much better environment," Lee stated. "This is such a fun sport, with elements that are very familiar but also some that are a little strange. It may look easy from the outside but once you play, you will see that it is not so simple. And maybe that can get people fired up and motivate them to get better."