Report: Salerno offered heat and memorable moments with student high-performance sports

The Games started off with table tennis, where the team from the University of Jyväskylä (Hakaste, Mäkinen and Ojala) fought well but remained one win away from the knock-out stage. There were an equal number of wins and losses in the singles and doubles, and the best part was to get to compete against such excellent players. In padel, the duo Alitalo and Eräkangas from Aalto University came ninth. The duo, who had been paired up for these Games, came away with a great hunger for future years.

The second week of the Games kicked off with football, where Liikunnan Riemu made an impressive start by securing a draw against the strongest team in the group. However, their subsequent opponents proved superior, and the Jyväskylä team finished the tournament in the lower bracket. In beach volley, Aalto and Huhtala from the University of Jyväskylä had to fight hard, but their team spirit remained good throughout the tournament, and they managed to avoid the bottom positions.

In badminton the team from Aalto University (Asfar, Gras, S. Emran, Z. Emran, Toivio) placed higher than any other Finnish team, ending up in 8th place. Their chances of a medal game ended with a loss against the University of Strasbourg. In the end, the French team took an overwhelming victory in the tournament. We saw both disappointments and successes in the singles and doubles, but overall, the team made a good impression.

Even though Finland did not come away with any medals, the atmosphere at the Games was excellent, and the team is full of enthusiasm for the European Student Championships in 2027. The next EUSA Games will take place in Split, Croatia in 2028. Check out the atmosphere from the Games in the posts and highlights on our Instagram account @liikuntaliitto.