The countdown to the fifth edition of University World Cup – 3×3 has well and truly started. In four weeks, the best university ballers from around the world will converge in Xiamen, China to compete for the title of University World Champion.
Among the 16 men’s and 16 women’s teams, there are five teams from Asian universities in both fields. Two Chinese teams gained automatic qualification as last year’s winners: Huaqiao University in the men’s field and Tsinghua University among the women. Both teams also happen to be from the host nation and will be looking to assert their dominance once again.
Giving them tough competition will be the team from the Mon-Altius PE Institute of Mongolia, who had won the 2017 edition. As the teams are made up of current university players, naturally the roster has changed since then although captain Onolbaatar Enkhbaatar (left) was also a part of the winning side in 2017. He will be joined by Myagmarsuren Ulzii-Orshikh, Chuluunbaatar Ikhbayar and Gantsolmon Gan-Erdene – all three of whom were in Xiamen last year.
Enkhbaatar is a highly rated international player with solid experience under his belt. “He was part of the FISU World University League champion team in 2017, and then went to play the FIBA 3×3 Mexico World tour,” says team manager Tugsjargal Sambuu.
“Our team’s goal is to be champions again,” says Enkhbaatar.
Over in the women’s field, Chinese Culture University of Taipei (above) had won the tournament in 2017 and will be keen to repeat that success. I Ting Tai and Yu Lien Hsu were part of the team that competed in the finals last year and although they missed out on the title, coach Hui Yun Cheng says, “we always have one goal: to be champions.”
Coach Cheng goes on to say, “We have the support from our university, the Chinese Culture University. The university gives our teams many opportunities to compete with different countries abroad or at home.”
Ahead of the 2019 finals, Cheng says they have been focusing on “the basics and on teamwork skills.”
