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 last night, 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 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."
The 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.
Japan 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 3x3, 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.
Olympic media powerhouse insidethegames.biz that 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)
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