Aichi Governor Hideaki Omura has voiced criticism towards the Thai teqball team, following a social media post by one of their coaches that depicted what he described as a meager lunch portion during the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan. The Thai teqball contingent, participating in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, had been providing updates on their training, competitions, and living conditions via the Teqball Thailand Inside Facebook page.
A video shared on September 17 by the team’s coach showcased the lunch provided to him and fellow team members at the competition venue. The meal consisted of a drink, soup, stir-fried noodles, rice, boiled vegetables, and dumplings. The coach expressed dissatisfaction, noting that he was limited to selecting only one of two vegetable options, despite preferring both, and commented on the perceived smallness of the portion. The Facebook page later clarified to sports fans that the team had access to additional food at a local restaurant, assuring that the Thai athletes had sufficient sustenance before their competitions.
Governor Omura addressed the issue during a press conference on October 6, where he also served as chairman of the Asian Games organising committee. He questioned the rationale behind the Thai team’s complaint and speculated that the video might have been created with the intention of garnering views. “It’s a bit harsh to complain, ‘This is all the food they have.’ I wondered if they came just to get views. I wish people like that hadn’t come,” Omura stated, as reported by Japanese media.
Previously, on September 22, the organizing committee had explained that meals for the teqball competition were not directly supplied by them. Teqball was integrated into the Games program under specific arrangements where the responsible sports organization was tasked with operational aspects, including accommodation and food. As of the time of this report, the Thai teqball team had not issued a response to Governor Omura’s comments. Despite this controversy, the Thai teqball team achieved a remarkable success, securing all three gold medals available in the sport at the 2026 Asian Games.