Akinori Wase is the new Japan Teqball Federation President ©Japan Teqball Federation

Akinori Wase has taken over from Kenichi Akutsu as President of the Japan Teqball Federation.

Also known as "Wasse", the new President is a teqball player in his own right and sits 30th in the International Federation of Teqball men's singles rankings.

After Akutsu stood down, Wase was selected as his successor by the Japan Teqball Federation Board.

In an open letter to the Japanese teqball community after taking the new role, Wase identified achieving full recognition from the Japanese Olympic Committee was among his top priorities.

Sending a strong team to the next Asian Beach Games, where teqball is on the programme for the first time, was also highlighted as an aim.

Akinori Wase, third from right, won the doubles contest at the Asian-Pacific Beach Teqball Cup in 2019 alongside Daishuke Yajima ©FITEQ
Akinori Wase, third from right, won the doubles contest at the Asian-Pacific Beach Teqball Cup in 2019 alongside Daishuke Yajima ©FITEQ

The Games in Chinese city Sanya were postponed for a second time last month because of the coronavirus crisis.

As a player, Wase reached the singles quarter-finals of the 2018 Teqball World Championships.

In 2019, Wase was knocked out of FITEQ's flagship event at the last 16.

Also in 2019, in Sanya, Wase won the doubles contest at the Asian-Pacific Beach Teqball Cup with partner Daishuke Yajima.