International students along with their Chinese peers from the School of Chinese Studies and Exchange at Shanghai International Studies University (SISU) delivered strong performances in both individual and team events at the university's 66th annual sports meet, held May 12–13 on the Songjiang Campus.

During the opening ceremony, international students took the lead with a creative idea: marching in formation while waving traditional Chinese silk fans. The graceful, flowing movements of the fans reflected their engagement with Chinese culture and a spirit of cross-cultural understanding. Together with their Chinese classmates, they presented a powerful image of unity, energy, and optimism.

On the track and field, the athletes pushed hard and delivered impressive results. Cameroonian student Lu Baichuan took silver in the men’s 100m final. In the women’s 100m, Barbadian student Leah and British student Lu Xuanyan both advanced to the final — Leah placing first in her heat and Lu Xuanyan fourth — with Lu Xuanyan eventually finishing fourth overall. Chinese student Lin Xinyi claimed bronze in the women’s 200m final, while Brazilian student Daniel ran a strong fourth in the men’s 1,500m. Mongolian student Ning Li also delivered a notable performance in the women’s 800m.

Chinese and international students worked closely together. In the 30-meter leg-tied race (six men and six women per team), their steps perfectly synchronized, and they finished second. In the tug-of-war competition (eight men and eight women per team), students from the college's undergraduate, master's, doctoral, and non-degree programs fought through three intense rounds, won the championship, and set a new all-time best record for the college.

Behind these results was the consistent support of the college's faculty and leadership. From training to on-field encouragement, teachers and students stood together as a solid backing for the athletes.

On the early summer field, Chinese and international students ran, cooperated, and cheered together. They shared the excitement of sport and built genuine friendships. Beyond nationality and language, they learned to trust each other through teamwork and to persevere through hard effort. Sweat and laughter came together as the most memorable part of their May.

Sport brings people closer; hard work makes youth shine. Though the sports meet has ended, the spirit of competition and cross-border friendship remains in everyone's memory. The School of Chinese Studies and Exchange continues to support well-rounded development by creating platforms for cross-cultural exchange. It guides Chinese and international students to broaden their views and build character through diverse activities. The school will keep fostering mutual understanding and shared growth among students from different backgrounds — helping each one move forward steadily and far on the path to becoming well-rounded individuals.

Source: Study at SISU