TURIN, Italy – South Korean short track speed skating star Kim Alang won the Best Female Athlete award at the 4th FISU Gala during a glittering ceremony in the historical Italian city that has a long association with university sport. Alang, along with Iranian Taekwondo athlete Armin Hadipour Seighalani headlined ten awards that were conferred by the International University Sports Federation.
Kim Alang, a double Olympic gold medallist, was recognised for her outstanding achievements on the university sports field; she has participated in three successive Winter Universiades and won gold at all three: Granada 2015, Almaty 2017 and Krasnoyarsk 2019. Armin Hadipour Seighalani was also awarded for this rare achievement of three consecutive Universiade gold medals – at Gwangju 2015, Taipei 2017 and Napoli 2019.
“I am really honoured to be here,” said Kim Alang. “I cherish all my Universiade experiences and I look forward to improving even more as an athlete.”
Emilio Ojea, President FeDUA receives the awardThe fourth edition of the FISU Gala also celebrated the 70th anniversary of the International University Sports Federation in grand style. Representatives from more than 120 member nations were present at the ceremony, that was held in Turin’s Sala Fucine – OGR, in between the two days of the ongoing 36th FISU General Assembly.
It was a special night for the National University Sports Federations (NUSF) of Japan, Argentina and China as their contribution to the university sports movement was recognised.
FeDUA, the Argentinian NUSF won the Best FISU Promotion Project award, for the House of University Sport at the Buenos Aires 2018 Summer Youth Olympics. The booth created a hotspot of great visibility for university sports at a location that was visited by thousands of young athletes and sports fans.
Kenji Nishimura of the Japanese Olympic Committee receives the Best NUSF awardJapan had the distinction of being named the Best National University Sports Federation. This award was judged based on the number of FISU events organised, the number of participants at FISU events like the Summer and Winter Universiade, World University Championships and University World Cups as well as the general proactive level and attitude of the NUSF.
A FISU Special Award was conferred upon the Federation of University Sports of China (FUSC) for the organisation of numerous FISU events, including several World University Championships, the University World Cup 3×3, the University World Cup – Football and the Chengdu 2021 Summer Universiade.
World Taekwondo won the award for the Best Support by an International Sports Federation.
Since the inclusion of the sport in the Summer Universiade compulsory programme in 2017, World Taekwondo has strongly supported FISU in the development and implementation of the sport, focusing on gender equality, innovation and equal opportunities for all participants.
It came as no surprise that the University of Torino was adjudged the Best University, due to its continuous collaboration with FISU, including the organization of the Universiade Torch relay that starts from Torino.
Other big winners of the night included the Technical University of Munich and the German University Sports Federation, who won the Best World University Championship 2018. With its excellent organisation, high-level competition and impressive branding, the event stood out as the best event of the 2018 FISU WUC programme.
Best Media Partner: insidethegames.bizOlympic media powerhouse insidethegames.biz was awarded Best Media Partner for its excellence and professionalism in journalism as well as their extensive coverage of university sports.
The Best Commercial partner award went to China-based sports apparel and equipment manufacturer Qiaodan for its continued support, cooperation and contribution towards the commercial activities that power the FISU family and FISU events.
“Since 2016 we have been in an excellent partnership with FISU,” said Yang Binsheng, of Qiaodan Sports. We appreciate the opportunity that FISU has given us to help boost student sport.”
Award recipients at the 4th FISU Gala
BEST UNIVERSITY – University of Torino
BEST INTERNATIONAL SPORTS FEDERATION – World Taekwondo
BEST NUSF – Japan
BEST FISU PROMOTION PROJECT – FeDUA (ARG)
BEST WUC 2018 – WUC Beach Volleyball (GER)
FISU SPECIAL AWARD- Federation of University Sports of China (FUSC)
BEST COMMERCIAL PARTNER – Qiaodan Sports Co. LTD
BEST MEDIA PARTNER – Insidethegames.biz
BEST FEMALE ATHLETE – Kim Alang, Short Track Speed Skating (KOR)
BEST MALE ATHLETE – Armin Hadipour Seighalani, Taekwondo (IRI)
Photos: Fulvio de Asmundis
