Throughout 2023, Oceania will be featuring university clubs from around our region. All clubs are active on their university campuses and in their community. All provide opportunities for their members and unite students during their time at university.
Club of the week for 12 June is the University of New Caledonia Sports Association.
This club involves five different sports including sport climbing, futsal, volleyball, Teqball and this year 3×3 Basketball was added to the sports on offer. Students who take part in club activities compete against other clubs in local competitions.
“The teams are very active and successful when they compete in local competitions”, says student Volleyball Coach Tino. “The students train and work hard under the guidance of their coaches and encourage each other to continually improve their skills, techniques and game plans so they can be as competitive as possible”, says Altan a Erasmus Futsal student player who is from Luxembourg.
The climbing wall on campus is state of the art and the students who participate in sport climbing enjoy the challenges that are provided as part of events such as their inter club meet.
“Having a world class climbing wall on university campus is of great benefit to the students who want to take part on our inter club meets and compete. The wall is also great for beginner climbers and we frequently conduct lessons in climbing for all abilities”, says Mr Benoit Mantez who is a university sports teacher and the university Climbing Coach.
Teqball is one of the more populate sports on campus. Teqball is a ball sport played on a curved table and it combines the elements of football and table tennis.
University Sports Manager Mr Eric Michalak is also President of the New Caledonia Teqball Association. “The sport of Teqball has been embraced by students here at the University”, says Mr Michalak. “The sport has provided a fun new activity for students to get involved in whilst trying new skills that they might not usually be used to”.
The sport can be played indoors or outdoors on any surface – so long as the table is stable. “We have had competitions played on the beach, indoors at sports halls and outdoors in our main campus courtyard. Our students enjoy showcasing the sport to the wider university community and we have held successful ‘come and try’ events on campus”, adds Mr Michalak.
The university has 10 Teqball tables, the highest number of tables in any Pacific country. “We are dedicated to this sport”, says Mr Michalak. “We hope to one day hold a Oceania university Teqball event where we can bring teams from across the region to our wonderful country and experience our local hospitality and enjoy the wonderful sport of Teqball”.
For more information about sport at The University of New Caledonia, visit their facebook page.
For more information about university sport in our region, contact us.
