The fall leg of the 2025–26 Sino-Foreign University Cup brought together students from NYU Shanghai, Duke Kunshan University, and the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC), for a weekend of athleticism, friendship, and cultural exchange at DKU.
Hosted under the Sino-Foreign University Sports Association (SFUSA), the weekend included competitions across a variety of sports: table tennis, badminton, volleyball, basketball, soccer, and tennis. While the Qilins came in third with 16 points—just two points behind UNNC and four behind DKU—there were plenty of highlights to remember.
Founded by the three Sino-Foreign universities in the Yangtze River Delta, the SFUSA officially launched its first full season last year after several pilot events. Luis Wang, director of athletics said the association provides students opportunities to compete, make connections and new friends. “The event is now more than just sports, with extra performances blossoming each year,” he said.
Women’s Teams Triumph
The NYU Shanghai Women’s Volleyball team celebrated a long-awaited victory over DKU, winning 2–1 vs. DKU; and 2–0 vs. UNNC. “I’m so psyched,” said Biology major Island Gabler ’28. “It’s so great that our new members got to experience this win. Our team has gotten so close!” The Men’s Volleyball team closed the weekend on a high note, winning 2–1 vs. DKU and 2–0 vs. UNNC. Business and Finance major Alex Xiao ’25, who returned from a knee injury to play in his final semester, said the moment felt great: “The score was really close, but I never doubted my teammates,” he said. “Everyone is so funny and supportive—they never give up on each other. I’m just really proud of the whole team for that fight.”
The Women’s Soccer team also put on an impressive performance, securing a crucial win over UNNC 6-0 and 4-1 over DKU early in the weekend. Social Sciences major Chen Ziyan ’26 said the violet pride was out in full force as the Qilins cheered each other on. The players on the bench shouted loudly for the players on the field, and the players worked extremely hard to win,” she remembered, “the guys from the Men’s team came to watch and support our game, and we did the same when they were playing. I feel like the whole soccer team is like a big family.”
Her teammate Biology major Bonnie Chang ’28 said the team has become her second home. Our coach is so supportive—he gives us opportunities to grow,” she said. “I’m very thankful for our coach and our team.”
A Mix of Highs and Lows
On the men’s side, Qilin athletes displayed determination and grit across all matches. Aidil Hasham Business and Finance ’25, captain of the Men’s Soccer team, shared, “I feel kind of disappointed, but I had fun. This is my last semester, so I really wanted to beat DKU, but I’ll leave that to the next generation. I learned how to be more calm and take care of myself—sleep, water—it all makes a difference.”
His teammate Jerry Xu Computer Science ’26 reflected on the team’s growth: “There’s still a lot of improvement to make and mistakes to learn from. We just have to practice more, focus, and put more energy into the game.”
While the soccer tournament did not end in NYU Shanghai’s favor, the Qilin Tennis Team saw victories on the court, defeating DKU 4-1 and UNNC 5-0.
Julia Hristov Business and Finance ’28 said the game taught her the power of community. “I learned how powerful it is to support one another while we play. Cheering for each other during matches made a huge difference in how our teammates performed. In tennis, we don’t usually cheer as much as athletes in other sports, but this tournament showed just how impactful it can be. We managed to turn the men’s doubles match around from losing 0–3 to winning 6–4.”
Harry Cen ’26, Men’s Tennis team captain said he learned how quickly the team can come together under pressure. Watching and participating in the team’s first tournament, he reflected: “Even though tennis is often seen as an individual sport, the most rewarding part was competing for our school as one unit. Everyone pushed beyond their comfort zone, and you could feel the collective standard rising with each match. Seeing personal growth translate into points for the team made the effort especially meaningful.”
Community and Celebration
The weekend was about more than sports—it also highlighted community spirit and creativity, featuring performances by campus groups like SOS, NYU Shanghai’s student dance club. “It’s been fun cheering on our teams and watching our friends perform,” said Interactive Media Arts and Business Marketing double major Siri Shetty ’28. “Because our school is small, everyone knows each other—it’s really nice seeing my friends achieve what they love.”
Even some alumni came out to cheer on the Qilins. Karina Dexter’25 was there on the sidelines cheering the teams on.“This is the most anticipated match of the year,” she said. “The games were intense, but our teams played their hearts out.”
Racing to Victory
Zeng Ziye ’28, a member of the NYU Shanghai Run Club took home first place in the 5k race, finishing with a speedy time of 17:27, a personal best. “Honestly, my time completely blew my expectations away,” he said. “Such a great energy from everyone, and I'm so happy to race in such a good atmosphere and befriend so many new runners.”
Looking Ahead
With two more competition legs to go, NYU Shanghai athletes are already setting their sights on the next competition at UNNC in spring. The final leg will be held at NYU Shanghai in April.