EUSA celebrates 200th Championship

The European University Sports Association is marking this important milestone with the European Universities Badminton Championship 2025 which started yesterday on 22 June in Madrid.

Established in 1999, the European University Sports Association (EUSA) launched its first European Universities Championships in 2001 with just two sports: basketball and volleyball. Since then, the programme has grown significantly, adding new sports, expanding participation, and becoming a key part of the European university sport landscape.

Two qualifiers for FISU events

For example, the European Universities Football and 3×3 basketball count as qualifying events for the FISU University World Cups.

By the mid-2000s, badminton, table tennis, handball, and rugby 7s had joined, followed in later years by rowing, judo, karate, taekwondo, and orienteering. Today, EUSA includes over 20 sports, offering diverse opportunities for student-athletes from all backgrounds.

Building on early success, EUSA rapidly expanded its programme. Badminton debuted in 2004, becoming a regular and respected sport within the association. Other disciplines like futsal, tennis, and beach volleyball also joined, reflecting increasing university engagement and interest.

In 2023, the championships reached a new peak with 5,570 student-athletes from across Europe taking part, setting a record for engagement and reflecting the growing popularity and impact of the programme.

The 200th championship, hosted by Camilo Jose Cela University and CEDU in Madrid from June 22–28, 2025, shines a spotlight on badminton, a sport that has been a constant presence in the EUSA programme for over 20 years. The event will feature both team and individual competitions, and it will be more than just a tournament: it will be a celebration of EUSA’s journey, uniting thousands of student-athletes through competition, friendship, and shared values.