NAPOLI, 10 July – With hundreds of passionate spectators packing the stands of the
PalaBarbuto hall in Napoli, Australia won the women’s basketball gold for a second time,
successfully defending their title from Taipei 2017. The UniRoos, as they are called, beat USA
80-72 in a great final, Portugal defeated Japan 76-59 to claim bronze.
Despite the close score line, Australia had the lead almost through the entire game, thanks to
outstanding individual performances from the likes of Lauren Scherf and Abigail Wehrung.
USA attempted to overturn the game twice, but was unable to keep up the momentum. The
Aussie team came together as a unit and played the match in great spirit.
“I am super proud, super proud of the girls, of the whole team,” said Australian captain Abigail
Wehrung. “It is really exciting. We knew the game was going to be tough, but we were super
fired up and determined. We executed the game plan, and are happy to have the win.”
Wehrung is one of the returning athletes for Autralia, from the victorious squad of 2017.
Speaking of the difference in team composition two years apart, Wehrung said, “Only four of
us attended the last Universiade. We have seven new members, but everyone gets along very
well and it is really enjoyable and a great team to be a part of.”
The bronze medal match played betwee Japan and Portugal was a closer one. I the last
minute of the fourth quarter, Portugal fought to bring the score to a level 58-58. The game
then went into overtime.
After that though, luck didn’t seem to favour Team Japan, silver medallists two years ago in
Taipei. They did have several chances to shoot, but missed them and ended up scoring only
one more point. Portugal on the other hand, made the most of the opportunity and took control
of the situation, eventually winning 76-59.
The International University Sports Federation – FISU
Founded in 1949, FISU stands for Fédération Internationale du Sport Universitaire
(International University Sports Federation). FISU was formed within university institutions in
order to promote sports values and sports practice in harmony with the university spirit.
Promoting sports values means encouraging friendship, fraternity, fair-play, perseverance,
integrity and cooperation amongst students, who one day may have responsibilities and key
positions in politics, economy, culture and industry.
With FISU’s motto being ‘Today’s Stars, Tomorrow’s Leaders’, all FISU events include
educational and cultural aspects, bringing together sport and academia from all over the world
to celebrate with a spirit of friendship and sportsmanship. FISU cooperates in developing its
events and programmes with all major international sports and educational organisations. As
major outcomes of those collaborations, in 2015, the United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) proclaimed the International Day of University Sport to
be celebrated annually on 20 September – an event that has seen huge growth in its first few
years.
FISU is composed of 174 Member Associations (National University Sports Federations). The
FISU General Assembly elects the members of the FISU Executive Committee, its board of
directors. A total of 14 permanent committees advise the Executive Committee in their
specialised areas. For the daily administration of FISU, the FISU Executive Committee relies
on the Secretary General, who is assisted by the FISU staff. FISU’s headquarters are in
Lausanne, Switzerland.
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