By: Coach Emer Matienzo
The Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines (FESSAP) is set to participate in the Chengdu 2021 World University Games. The event is scheduled to take place in Chengdu, China, from July 28 to August 8, 2023.
FESSAP is the national governing body for university sports in the Philippines. It is responsible for organizing and promoting various sports events for student-athletes. FESSAP has been preparing for the World University Games for several months now, and the athletes are eager to represent the Philippines on the global stage.
The Chengdu 2021 World University Games will feature over 10,000 athletes from more than 170 countries. The Philippines will be sending a delegation of athletes, coaches, and officials to the event. The athletes will be competing in different sports, including athletics, swimming, taekwondo, archery, badminton, table tennis, lawn tennis and wushu.
FESSAP President Edwin C. Fabro who attended the Head of Delegations meeting, expressed his excitement for the upcoming event, saying, “We are very proud to represent the Philippines in the Chengdu 2021 World University Games. Our student-athletes have been training hard for this event, and we are confident that they will give their best performance on the international stage.”
The World University Games, also known as the Universiade, is a multi-sport event organized for university athletes. The event is held every two years and is second only to the Olympic Games in terms of the number of participants. The Universiade provides a platform for young athletes to showcase their talents and gain valuable international experience.
FESSAP has a strong track record in the World University Games, having won several medals in the past. The organization is hoping to continue this success in Chengdu and bring home more medals for the Philippines.
In addition to FESSAP’s participation in the Chengdu 2021 World University Games, the organization is also looking to expand its roster of athletes, particularly in the sport of swimming. The Philippines has been sending competitive swimmers to international events in recent years, but FESSAP is hoping to attract even more talent to the sport.
FESSAP’s efforts to recruit more swimmers have been boosted by the news that Chinese swimmer Zhang Yufei, also known as the “Butterfly Queen”, has expressed interest in participating in the Chengdu 2021 FISU World University Games. According to reports, Zhang has already signed up for the Games.
Zhang is a highly decorated athlete in the international swimming scene, with a focus on sprint freestyle and butterfly events. She won two gold medals and two silver medals at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics, setting a new Olympic record in the women’s 200-meter butterfly event.
The Chengdu 2021 World University Games is set to be a major sporting event, and FESSAP is proud to be representing the Philippines. The organization is committed to promoting sports and athletics in the country.