The 2024 Teqball World Championship is over—and what an experience! After a year of hard preparation, I celebrated in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, where I made my debut on the world stage as the youngest participant. That trip was not only unforgettable, but also an incredible athletic success.
An impressive opening to the 2024 Teqball World Championship
The World Championship kicked off on December 4, 2024, with a spectacular opening ceremony. The organizers even unveiled their very own Teqball song. Participants from all over the world came together and created an incredible atmosphere. The atmosphere electrified everyone in attendance. It was great to be part of this unique event.
No. 47 in the Men's World Rankings – A Milestone
My goal was to make it into the top 80. Now I'm ranked 47th! It's a success I never would have expected. Thanks to intensive training sessions in Podersdorf (Podo Beach), Neusiedl, Győr, and Bratislava, I was able to steadily improve. Twelve tournaments in one year earned me a fifth-place finish in singles in Lithuania and a third-place finish in mixed doubles in Slovakia. The hard training paid off!
Exciting matches and major challenges
In the group stage, I faced Stoycho Zhekov from Bulgaria and lost 12–6 and 12–3. But in the second match, I showed my strength. A decisive 12–4, 12–4 victory over Aitegin Erkinev from Kyrgyzstan sent me into the Round of 32.
Waiting for me there was none other than the world’s No. 1, Apor Gyorgydeak from Romania. Despite losing 12–2 and 12–3, I managed to score a few great points against the eventual world champion. That was a small victory for me, considering that even the runner-up only scored one more point against him.
My match against Apor was livestreamed. You can watch the video here.
In doubles, we were just a little bit short of luck
Daniel Neuhold and I faced Malaysia together in the Round of 32. In the first set, we squandered three set points and lost 11–9. We managed to win the second set. In the third set, however, we had to admit defeat. In the end, we finished in 17th place—still a strong performance!
Training and Interaction Outside the Tournament
Outside of the official tournament schedule, we trained and played intensively with other players. This helped us get to know our future opponents better. We also found potential doubles partners for upcoming tournaments. Interacting and training with international players was a very enriching experience for me and broadened my athletic horizons.
A Tour of Ho Chi Minh City
Despite the busy tournament schedule, we still had some time to explore the fascinating city of Ho Chi Minh. One of the highlights was our visit to the Ben Thanh Market. There, we immersed ourselves in the lively atmosphere and sampled local specialties.
Equally impressive was the central post office, the Saigon Central Post Office. This 19th-century architectural masterpiece was designed by the French architect Alfred Foulhoux. Our visit to the Bitexco Financial Tower offered us a breathtaking panoramic view of the entire city.
Our stay at The Cafe Apartments, a nine-story building with numerous cafes and boutiques, was particularly memorable. From our balcony, we had a direct view of the Teqball venue. This made the experience even more intense. It inspired us to watch the games from this perspective while enjoying the building’s creative atmosphere.
My Conclusions and the Teqball World Championship Closing Ceremony
After numerous intense matches and enriching experiences, a spectacular closing ceremony was held on December 9, 2024, to mark the end of the World Championship. Afterward, all the players gathered for a dinner together. They celebrated the experiences and memories of the past few days. It was a wonderful conclusion to an incredible tournament. The event provided an opportunity to deepen friendships and build networks.
Thank you to everyone who supports me in 2024
I couldn't have done it without my team. A huge thank you to my coach Anton Kiss, the laketownRIDERS, my father and coach Roland Hamm, and our sponsors AutomationX, Energie Steiermark, and Podobeach. You've been with me every step of the way and made this success possible!
We're looking ahead to 2025
After the World Cup, the next challenge awaits! I really want to qualify for the 2025 Teqball World Championship qualify. Before that, I’ll be taking part in a three-day training camp in Győr and Budapest. There, I’ll be preparing for the upcoming tournaments. I’m really looking forward to the future. I’ll continue to give it my all to raise the profile of Austrian Teqball on the international stage!
