Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU) athletes delivered an outstanding performance at the 12th Guangdong University Games, which concluded on May 29. SYSU secured 23 gold, 14 silver, 16 bronze medals, and broke 4 competition records.

Dominant Medal Haul

SYSU achieved second place in the gold medal tally and third place in Group A, underscoring its comprehensive athletic strength. The university demonstrated dominance in China's three major team sports—volleyball, football, and basketball—by fielding 8 teams and securing 5 championships.

The First Place Trophy for Overall Team Championship in Group A at the 12th Guangdong University Games

Volleyball

Serving as the volleyball venue host for this year's games, SYSU dominated the courts with a clean sweep of four championships—claiming men's and women's gold in both Group A and B divisions.

SYSU Group B Men's Volleyball Team Pumping Up Before the Showdown

SYSU Group B Women's Squad in Championship Action

SYSU Group A Men's and Women's Teams pose for a photo at the award ceremony after winning their championships.

Badminton

In the badminton competition, SYSU captured two gold medals in the women’s team and women’s doubles events. Then it further showcased its depth and competitiveness by adding two bronze medals and securing a fifth-place finish in other categories.

Badminton Match in Action

Olympic badminton champion coach Jiewen Zhang praised the players, stating: "The athletes prove that every effort is worthwhile."

SYSU Badminton Team Group Photo

Tennis

SYSU also delivered an outstanding performance in the tennis competition, claiming one gold and one silver medal. The men’s doubles team secured the championship with an undefeated record, while the men’s team secured second place. The women’s singles player finished fourth, and SYSU placed second overall in Group A. Looking ahead, the team aims to leverage this momentum to prepare for the National University Tennis Championship, striving for further excellence.

Men’s Doubles Award Ceremony

Group Photo of the Winning Players

Wushu (Chinese Martial Arts)

At the Group A Wushu Taolu finals, SYSU's eight-athlete squad delivered a dominant performance, claiming five gold medals across critical disciplines: Men's Optional Changquan, Men's Optional Qiangshu, Men's Optional Nandao, Men's Optional Nangun, Women's Optional Nanquan. This gold sweep showcased exceptional technical mastery and competitive excellence, reflecting their solid foundational skills and high-level athletic expertise.

Medals Won by the Athletes

The team further augmented their medal tally with one silver and one bronze, cementing a remarkable overall achievement.

Group Photo of Players

Orienteering

SYSU fielded a 12-member team, demonstrating strong determination and unwavering will throughout the competition. The team clinched first place in the Group A sprint event, secured third place in the middle-distance race, and ranked eighth overall in Group A team standings.

During the Competition

Group Photo of the Athletes

Football

The men’s Group A football team secured SYSU’s first-ever football championship, achieving a historic breakthrough by breaking their previous record of three bronze medal finishes (1985, 1999, 2022).

Football Final in Action

Team Members Celebrate Championship Victory

Swimming

SYSU’s swimming team concluded six days of competition at the games with an outstanding performance, securing 5 gold, 8 silver, and 6 bronze medals.

Group Photo of the Athletes

Siting Chen led the charge with golds in the Women’s Group A 50m Freestyle and 50m Backstroke, posting times of 26.86 and 32.15 seconds. The men’s team added two more golds in the 50m Breaststroke and 50m Backstroke.

Siting Chen claims gold in 50m Freestyle and 50m Backstroke events.

Minxing Zhou wins gold in Men's Group A 50m Breaststroke and 50m Backstroke.

The highlight came in the mixed 4x50m medley relay, where SYSU’s quartet finished in 2:00.51—smashing the meet record by 7 seconds and taking the gold. The team’s performance reflected both athletic excellence and strong unity.

Olympic Champion and SYSU Swimming Coach Liuyang Jiao with Medal-Winning Athletes

Athletics

Sun Yat-sen University's track and field team secured a total of 4 gold, 3 silver, and 5 bronze medals at this year’s games.

Group Photo of Award-Winning Athletes

Ting Zhu, a 2022 postgraduate student from the School of Physical Education, set a new meet record in the Women’s Group B high jump with a height of 1.80 meters—surpassing a provincial university games record that had stood for 30 years.

Women's Group B High Jump ChampionTing Zhu (right) with Coach Yabin Qiu (left)

The team also captured gold medals in the Women’s Group A long jump, Women’s Group A triple jump, and Women’s Group B long jump events.

Yuyang Liu (fourth from right) wins gold in Women's Group A Long Jump and Triple Jump events.

Zhishuang Li wins gold in Women's Group B Long Jump event.

Aerobics

In the aerobics competition, SYSU placed second in the Group A aerobic dance event, fifth in the trio routine, and sixth in the mixed pair category. The team ranked seventh overall in Group A total points through consistent performance.

SYSU team takes second place in Group A Aerobic Dance event.

Trio Routine in Action

Mixed Pair Routine in Action

In recognition of their sportsmanship and competitive conduct, the team was also awarded the “Sportsmanship Award.”

At the closing ceremony, Prof. Shi Xie, Vice President of SYSU, accepted the Games flag, officially inaugurating SYSU’s hosting role for the 13th Guangdong University Games. The university will stage the event in 2029.

SYSU athletes showcased exceptional sportsmanship through grit and collaboration at recent competitions, a testament to the university’s athletic philosophy. With its sights set on becoming a top-tier athletic institution, SYSU is dedicated to fostering excellence and driving innovation in collegiate sports.