Matytsin this week met with Gábor Borsányi, the Hungarian President of the International Federation of Teqball (FITEQ).

The Sports Minister took part in an exhibition teqball match with Borsányi and the former captain of Russia's national football team Alexei Smertin as part of the occasion, as reported by the Russian state news agency TASS.

Teqball is played on a curved teq table, combining elements of football and table tennis, with players prohibited from using their arms or hands.

Matytsin said afterwards that he believes the sport can appeal widely in Russia.

"The sports using this table made a positive impression on me," Matytsin said.

"I am sure that these activities will be popular in the Russian Federation."

Kirill Zemskov has represented Russia in singles teqball, and is one of five doubles players from he country ranked by FITEQ.

Two of those are also included in the mixed doubles rankings.

However, Russia is not currently included among the more than 100 National Federations which are members of FITEQ, and Matytsin expressed an ambition to further the development of the sport in the country.

"We are interested in creating a Russian team to participate in international competitions," Matytsin remarked.

FITEQ is to stage its Teqball World Championships in Polish city Gliwice next month, with men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles and mixed doubles events set to be contested from December 8 to 11.