New sport in town: Teqball gains popularity in Triangle, hopes to become Olympic sport by 2028

While sports fans may be laser-focused on the women's world cup or looking ahead to football season, another sport is growing in popularity.

This isn't a ping pong table, it's a new table top sport called Teqball.

"It is curved, so that's the main difference, so that the ball comes to the player," said Elena Sanchez.

Sanchez and Paola Quintero are professional soccer players from Colombia and east coast ambassadors of the game called Teqball.

During off-season for soccer, the two decided to give Teqball a try.

The goal is for Teqball to become an Olympic sport by the 2028 games.

Sanchez and Quintero both hope to compete in the 2028 Olympics.

"That's a big goal of ours, to be the best players in the country," Quintero said.

Sanchez and Quintero are working to create awareness leading up to the women's world cup final.

The game includes elements of soccer.

"You can use everything except your hands, so you're feet, your knees, your chest, your head, your shoulders," Sanchez said.

Tennis is also mixed into the action. The sport involves using your body -- everything except your hands.

"If you attack with your head, when the ball comes back you have to attack with a different body part," Sanchez said.

The game has a global presence in more than 150 countries.

"Currently as we speak, I think there's going to be one in China and Thailand," Sanchez said.

Pros, amateurs and weekend warriors are flocking to Teqball tables in all 50 states.

Teqball USA is working to use the power of sports to build community, cultural relevance and excitement among youth.

"We work with kids, too," Quintero said. "We went to soccer clubs and even convention centers, and kids are all about it, too."

Organizers also have plans to donate Teqball tables to local parks and rec centers so the game can be accessible to anyone.

If you're interested in the sport but don't know where to begin, Sanchez recommends using a wall to practice.

"Find a wall and just volley the ball onto the wall," she said. "Work on receiving the ball with different parts of your foot [and] with your knee or your head or your shoulder."

Quintero said a simple way to get started is to practice juggling a soccer ball.

"It just helps with your touch and your balance as well," Quintero said.

They said it's important to know the rules of the game. But it's also important to have fun.

"My advice is just get out there because the more you play the sport, the more comfortable you get and the better you're going to be -- and the more fun you're going to have," Sanchez said.