2023 NTU-NCKU Friendship Tournament: Competing in Sports and Creating Cherished Memories

Entering its 26th year, the NCKU-NTU Sports Exchange Friendship Tournament was held at NCKU over two consecutive days, November 11 and 12. The 2023 exchange included three events: rugby, badminton, and baseball, with approximately 170 participants from both universities. To increase interaction among faculty and staff, this year's event featured a special badminton category for faculty and staff in addition to the student competitions. Participants showcased their skills and created cherished memories through friendly competition.

The NTU team, led by Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs Lin-Chi Chen and Director of the Physical Education Office Yu-Hui Lien, received a warm welcome from NCKU's Director of the Physical Education Office, Hsien Che Huang. Both universities achieved notable results, but the primary focus was on fostering interaction and camaraderie through sports.

Chih-An Chuang, captain of the NCKU women's badminton team and a student in the Department of Environmental Engineering, remarked that the NCKU-NTU Tournament is not just a competition but also an opportunity for the badminton team to showcase their training and teamwork. She was honored that the team’s efforts resulted in keeping the friendship tournament trophy at NCKU. Wen-Chieh Di, Secretary-General of the NCKU Faculty Badminton Association and a library staff member, expressed joy in their victory against NTU’s faculty team despite their less rigorous training compared to the student teams. He believed this win would inspire greater enthusiasm and commitment to badminton among the members.

Qian-Jun Shen, President of the NCKU Rugby Team and a student in the Graduate Institute of Civil Engineering, noted that alumni often attend the annual NCKU-NTU tournament to watch and support the team, providing an excellent opportunity for interaction and learning from their experiences.

Tai-Yi Yang, captain of the NCKU baseball team and a student in the Department of Physics, shared that this was his first time participating in the NCKU-NTU Tournament. He gained significant experience and, more importantly, formed valuable friendships. He believes the tournament allowed NTU students to experience the beauty and warmth of Tainan.