Gary Adams is confident the sport of teqball will truly flourish on island as it continues to build on its early burgeoning success.

Having first taken notice of the sport — played on a convex curved table, combining elements of football and table tennis — while working with the men’s national team during their Gold Cup campaign last year, Adams held talks with the Department of Youth, Sport and Recreation to establish the possibility of introducing teqball to Bermuda.

From those initial discussions the Bermuda Teqball Federation was formed to now reaching a stage where the island was officially granted membership to the International Federation of Teqball this month.

“It’s really started to blossom since April,” said Adams, who has taken up the role as president of the Bermuda Teqball Federation.

“We had one or two tables to start and now we have been blessed to be able to offer one to every high school and the Sammy Wilson community centre.

“Hopefully, we will also be able to get to seven or eight of the local clubs very soon.

“It is also something I’d love to introduce to the national team as a warm-up device to be used in a more fun training exercise.

“The sport itself is a massive benefit to players of all ages and also brings male and female players together because it comes down to purely technique rather than physical attributes; it’s really inclusive.”

As the game continues to gain interest on island, Adams is planning on introducing a number of events and tournaments, which could ultimately enable players the chance to compete overseas.

“Once we can get the table out to the clubs, we are aiming to also stage a community event.

“From there we would love to develop team competitions where perhaps clubs would put their best players forward and it could become an island-wide event.

“We’re hoping to gain government status at some stage, which would mean we are fully accredited and then winners of competitions on island would be officially recognised and could progress further to international events.”

International involvement could eventually include participation at the Teqball World Cup and even the biggest sporting stage of all, with talks having already taken place about the sport being fast-tracked into the Olympic Games as early as 2028.

“This sport really has a worldwide scope,” Adams added. “We’re getting into it in the second wave, really, but it’s crazy to think that someone winning a competition here could go on and compete globally.

“The International Federation of Teqball based in Hungary have big aspirations for the sport and want as many nations as possible to join up. They are hoping the sport could be included in the Olympic Games.

“That could create huge opportunities for players from here in the future. The idea of someone from Bermuda representing the island at the Olympics would be the ultimate dream, but at the moment that is what it is. Anything is possible, of course, and that would be the dream.

“For the immediate future, we are trying to help the sport grow; ideally reach all schools and clubs and hopefully offer competitions and leagues.”