2023.02.26
The 55th annual Meizhu Tournament between National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) in Taiwan and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) came to a conclusion with dramatic victories by NTHU's men's and women's volleyball teams, giving NTHU an overall winning score of seven out of ten.
The Tournament was attended by hundreds of teachers and students from both schools, including NTHU president W. John Kao (高為元), senior vice presidents Chien Chen-fu (簡禎富) and Lyu Ping-chiang (呂平江), dean of student affairs Chan Hong-lin (詹鴻霖), former president Chen Wen-tsuen (陳文村), and Alumni Association president Tsai Eric (蔡進步). NYCU president Lin Chi-hung (林奇宏) was also in attendance. In addition, the teams were cheered on by the many viewers who watched the live broadcast of the exciting event.
The third and final evening of the Tournament began with the men's volleyball match, which the NTHU team won by taking three sets in a row. Kao said that the team's highly disciplined approach to training was readily apparent in their performance on the court. Next came the women's volleyball match, and the NTHU team also won three sets in a row, making it look as easy as splitting bamboo.
This was the first time Kao has been to the Meizhu Tournament, but he has heard a number of alumni reminiscing about it. Seated in the front-row bleacher, he exclaimed, “I finally have the Meizhu spirit!”
On the second night of the Tournament, held at NTHU, the women's and men's basketball competitions were won by the home team, whereupon the NTHU cheerleading squad raised Kao up to the basket while shaking the gymnasium with the cheer “Victory to NTHU.”
The baseball game was held on the second day of the event, and the NTHU team won 20-10. Shen,Chen-han (沈辰翰), Yang,Yong-kai (楊永楷), and Yen,Chun-yu (葉峻瑜) were impressive in the batter’s box, and in the sixth inning Chen, Chia-yu (陳嘉佑) hit a home run. For six innings, pitchers Xiao Yan and Jhong,Siang-ze (鍾享澤) kept their rivals on the defensive.
This year's Meizhu Tournament was organized by NYCU and included ten official scored competitions: table tennis, tennis, baseball, men's volleyball, women's volleyball, women's basketball, men's basketball, badminton, bridge, and chess. In addition, there were eight other unscored exhibition matches: soccer, billiards, kendo, archery, softball, go, women’s table tennis, and women’s tennis.
The scored competitions won by NTHU were chess, tennis, baseball, women's basketball, men's basketball, men's volleyball, and women's volleyball. Those won by NYCU were table tennis, badminton, and bridge.
The Meizhu Tournament began over half a century ago, and this is the second year in a row that NTHU has taken the trophy.
Purple streamers being tossed to celebrate the NTHU victory.
NTHU president W. John Kao celebrating the victory.
NTHU president W. John Kao (高為元) celebrating the victory, with the women’s volleyball team in the background.
The NTHU cheerleading squad raising Kao up to the basket.
NTHU president W. John Kao (center) joining students in the bleachers.
NTHU server Chen,Hao-wei (陳皓偉) in action on the volleyball court.
NTHU server Chen,Hao-wei in action on the volleyball court.
The NTHU men’s volleyball team and their teachers.
NTHU’s Feng, Yu (馮渝) (no. 6) on the volleyball court.
NTHU’s Huang,Ya-huei (黃雅彙) (no. 19) making a drop shot.
The NTHU women’s volleyball team and their teachers.
NTHU’s Lai,Yu-sin (賴郁欣) (no. 11) in action on the basketball court.
NTHU’s Ciou, Liang (邱亮) (no. 43) in action on the basketball court.
