Between 4-8 April 2019, a Hungarian Teqball-delegation visited Islamabad. The deputation was led by Mr. István Iglói-Nagy, Head of the Sports Diplomacy Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary.
On 5 April the delegation met with Additional Secretary Europe Mr. Zaheer Janjua, where the parties discussed the increasing role of sports diplomacy in foreign relations and the possibility of Hungarian sports trainers’ participation in the development of sports life in Pakistan.
Mr. István Iglói-Nagy also met with Mr. Tepuu Mahabat, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination, which also supervises the sportlife in Pakista. During the talks the leader of the Hungarian delegation introduced the football-based Hungarian Teqball innovation. The Pakistani side confirmed its interest in the possibility of scientific cooperation between Hungarian and Pakistani universities on the field of physical education and sports.
After the meetings a welcome reception was held in the garden of the Embassy. In his opening speech Ambassador Mr. István Szabó called the visit of the Teqball delegation a milestone in the bilateral sports diplomacy. He praised the Pakistani Government’s initiatives to promote a healthy and sporty lifestyle, stressing that the amount invested in sports creates a doubled saving in the health sector. Mr. István Iglói-Nagy emphasized that Hungary is a sport nation, which is famous about its outstanding results at the Olympics and various world competitions. Mr. Aamer Mehmood Kiani, Federal Minister for National Health Services underlined the importance the Pakistani youth’s education for sporty and healthy lifestyle.
During the event the delegation offered a Teqball table to the Dost Welfare Foundation in Peshawar, which is a non-profit organisation working with youth suffering from drug addiction or other social difficulties.
On 6 April in the EU-day (EuroVillage) professional Teqball players presented the game and the table to the Pakistani audience on the big stage of the event. After the presentation the Pakistani visitors could also try out the game in front of the Hungarian stand. Besides popularizing the Teqball sport, the Hungarian stand exhibited our national cultural and gastronomic features and the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Programme as well.
PTV World's report about the Teqball show organized by the Embassy of Hungary in Islamabad:
PTV World's report about the EU-day (EuroVillage) in Islamabad:
