Badminton star Cui Hechen and 3×3 basketball standout Liu Bei will lead Team China as flag bearers at the 2025 FISU Summer World University Games opening ceremony in Germany, marking their debut appearances at the global collegiate sports event.
Cui, representing Hunan Normal University, and Liu from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, expressed both excitement and determination ahead of the July 16-27 competition. 'This might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to carry our national flag,' Cui told reporters. 'I want to grow through this experience while building friendships with students worldwide.'
Liu emphasized her dual mission: 'Beyond personal achievement, I'm here to showcase Chinese youth's spirit. My ultimate goal is bringing home gold.' The delegation will compete across 14 sports featuring 90 events, with over 10,000 student-athletes from 150+ countries and regions expected to participate.
The Rhine-Ruhr and Berlin-hosted games continue China's strong tradition in the Universiade, often seen as a proving ground for future Olympic champions. Academic institutions across Asia are closely watching the event, which combines elite athletics with international educational exchange.
