Tehran (IP) - Teqball, a cross between football and table tennis, is a new sport emerging around the world and finding huge popularity among teenagers.

Ever since the earliest recorded form of football was played in 200 BC, various forms of the Beautiful Game have been invented and reimagined over the years.

From futsal and beach football to more recent iterations that have seen it combined with other sports, such as footgolf and footvolley, different variants of football are constantly evolving.

The latest is Teqball; born in Hungary, it already looks to be taking football-mad Brazil by storm.

The brainchild of former professional footballer Gabor Borsanyi -- who co-founded the game with businessman Gyuri Gattyan and computer scientist Viktor Huszar -- Teqball involves playing with a football on a surface that resembles a curved table tennis table.

Played as singles or doubles, it requires players to take one touch to control the ball and return towards their opponent at the other end of the table.

Among its official ambassadors -- or "Teqers" -- Teqball counts World Cup winners Carles Puyol, Robert Pires, and Christian Karembeu, Portuguese legend Luis Figo, Premier League legend Gianfranco Zola and, as the latest addition to its list, two-time FIFA World Player of the Year Ronaldinho.

The sport, which was created in Hungary in 2012 is a truly gender-equitable game, as the rules define that Teqball shall be played between two (singles) or four players (doubles), irrespective of gender.

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