Universiade gives Phl high marks

GWANGJU, South Korea – With the 28th Summer Universiade barely several days old, the Philippines is already getting good reviews from the biennial event organizer, the Federation Internationale du Sport Universitaire (FISU).

FISU secretary-general Eric Saintrond informed Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines (FESSAP) president David Ong and Philippine head of delegation Sen. Antonio Trillanes about the country’s good standing with the Lausanne, Switzerland-based organization also known as the International University Sports Federation.

“Mr. Saintrond is very happy with our third straight participation in the Summer Universiade in Gwangju – after Shenzhen, China in 2011 and Kazan, Russia in 2013,” said Ong, who was personally invited for a private lunch-meeting by Saintrond.

“He is also looking forward to visiting Manila this year and during the World University Cycling Championships, which FESSAP and the Tagaytay City government are hosting in March 2016,” Ong said.

Ong, who is credited for the country’s successful participation in the last two Universiades where taekwondo star Samuel Thomas Morrison bagged a silver medal in Shenzhen and chess hero GM Wesley So captured a gold medal in Kazan, said FISU’s decision to award to the country the hosting of the World University Cycling Championships is a good indication that FESSAP is doing well in its role to promote university sports.

“The World University Cycling Championships, one of the many topnotch competitions in the FISU calendar, will not only put our country back in the world sporting map but will give us another opportunity to showcase our world-class Filipino hospitality,” said Ong, who also personally attended to the needs of the 120-strong Filipino delegation supported by San Miguel Corp. and Megaworld.