"Go! Nice shot!" "Beautiful!" The cheers echoed throughout the sports stadium and athletic fields of Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University.

On March 29th, the fifth "XJTLU Cup" Sino-Foreign Sports League successfully concluded. Nearly 350 students from the University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Duke Kunshan University, and Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University sweated it out on the spring competition fields, demonstrating the sporting spirit of perseverance and unity.

Organized by the XJTLU Sports Centre and co-hosted by the XJTLU Sports Association and six sports clubs, this year's league aimed to build a platform for intercollegiate exchange and promote the development of sports culture. The league covered football, table tennis, badminton, tennis, men's & women's volleyball, and men's & women's basketball. It attracted numerous Chinese and international students to participate, with international players accounting for nearly 25%, highlighting the strong international character of the league among Sino-foreign cooperative universities.

On the fields, the athletes presented the audience with a series of exciting and thrilling matches, showcasing their superb skills and tenacious fighting spirit.

At the table tennis tables, Gong Mingze from the University of Nottingham Ningbo China expressed slight regret: "This year is my last time participating in the 'XJTLU Cup'. Although we didn't win the championship, persisting to the end is a victory in itself."

On the volleyball court, the women's players dove for saves and spiked with powerful kills, their默契配合(tacit coordination) interpreting the never-say-die sports spirit through their actions. Kira Li from Duke Kunshan University shared: "Although I was a bit nervous competing for the first time, as the matches progressed, I enjoyed the process more and more. This is the charm of competitive sports!"

During the breaks, the sports bazaar outside the XJTLU stadium was also bustling, attracting athletes, coaches, and team leaders to stop and participate. As a new communication platform introduced for the fifth "XJTLU Cup", all three participating universities had exhibition booths. Participants won prizes by taking on sport-related game challenges.

Ms. Li Weiyi from the XJTLU Sports Centre served as the overall event director for this league. She said, "We hope the bazaar can become a bridge for intercollegiate exchange, extending beyond the competition venues, allowing students to gain more friendships beyond the contests."

The award ceremony for the league was held on the evening of March 29th. The organizing committee presented trophies, medals, and custom souvenirs to the winning teams and individuals. The XJTLU athletes performed particularly brilliantly, clinching championships in five events: badminton, tennis, men's basketball, men's volleyball, and women's volleyball. They secured second place in three events: football, table tennis, and women's basketball. Wang Chutong from the XJTLU basketball team was awarded the MVP title for men's basketball.

Dr. Xie Qijian (first from right in the picture above), Director of the Student Affairs Centre at XJTLU, stated in his speech: "We are here not only to celebrate the victories but, more importantly, to cheer for our friendship, our determination, and our sportsmanship." He pointed out that the "XJTLU Cup" Sino-Foreign Sports League has built a bridge for communication and sharing among students from different countries, universities, and backgrounds who share a common love for sports, allowing athletes to share the diverse charm of sports in an atmosphere of unity and friendship.

Dr. Zarko Krkeljas, Director of Athletics at Duke Kunshan University, delivered a speech as a representative of the participating schools. He mentioned that the participating universities share similar international educational environments and cultivation philosophies. Through significant competitions like the "XJTLU Cup", the exchange and interaction between friendly universities can be further enhanced.