Dobbin, Abraham win doubles final in inaugural teqball tourney

TWENTY-ONE Teqball Club’s Troy Dobbin and Enoch Abraham beat Rainbow Teqiizz Club’s Tanaka Sigamata and Albert Mesulam in the doubles final of Papua New Guinea’s inaugural teqball tournament on Monday.
At Port Moresby’s Sir John Guise Stadium Indoor Complex, both teams had overcome their semifinal opponents, brother-sister duo Madiu and Hiuri Andrew, of East Coast Magicians, and Rainbow Teqiizz Club’s Cynthia Pulou and Russell Kauyet.
Success in the doubles event of the National Challenger Series One added to Dobbin’s fantastic campaign as he made the singles final as well, where he lost to Rainbow Teqiizz Club’s Percy Mataio Jr.
The winners claimed a Grand 6 tablet, courtesy of bmobile, the official communications partner of the tournament and will have their names engraved in the perpetual trophies sponsored by Trophy Haus.
Trophy Haus gift certificates were also awarded to those involved in the tournament, who displayed the TeqPNG values of respect, excellence, sustainability and inclusion.
Mataio Jr and Dobbin were part of a young contingent of players who impressed throughout the tournament in the singles and doubles events, in some cases upstaging their more senior opponents to produce some surprising results.
The youngest participant in the tournament, 13-year-old Kumarizzar Aua, reached the quarterfinals after finishing tied for first in his pool with some impressive performances.
Another young prospect who displayed composure and skill beyond his years was Aua’s cousin Sumareni Kini who also made the quarterfinals before losing to the eventual third-place singles finisher Mea Mundi.
Solomon United Teqball Club’s Mea and his brother, Junior Arnold Mundi, took part in both singles and doubles events and will no doubt be players to watch in the future.
Thirty-six participants took part in the Challenger Series One, but it was the performances of the young players which was the most pleasing aspect of the tournament for TeqPNG president Percy Mataio.
“To see the young talents on display not only making the numbers but also in many cases outperforming some of the pre-tournament favourites was a pleasant surprise and is promising for teqball in PNG,” he said.
Mataio was grateful to all involved in staging the first teqball tournament in PNG, thanking bmobile, Trophy Haus, Media Partners, PNG Sports Foundation and the officials and volunteers who made the National Challengers Series One a success.
He also encouraged the participants to continue playing teqball and training for the next tournament which would be held in the coming months.