The National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST) 2026 Water Games kicked off with great enthusiasm yesterday on May 27th at 6:00 PM at the campus swimming pool. The opening ceremony was co-chaired by Dean of General Affairs Meng-Hao Tsai and Director of the Physical Education Office Hsiu-Ching Lin, who both attended to cheer on the participating faculty and students. This year’s event attracted over 300 passionate participants from across the campus. The competitions included the 50-meter freestyle, 50-meter breaststroke, and various fun recreational relays, showcasing the university’s fruitful results in promoting campus sports and healthy living.
During the opening ceremony, Dean of General Affairs Meng-Hao Tsai expressed his hope that all faculty and students would fully enjoy the fun of sports while challenging themselves and striving for excellent results. He also expressed his gratitude for the enthusiastic participation of the university community, noting that their involvement demonstrates how NPUST—while deeply valuing academic development and sustainability principles—continues to build a vibrant, healthy, and team-spirited campus culture.
This year’s Water Games kicked off with the “Underwater Treasure Hunt” fun relay. This was followed by an alternating schedule of competitive events and recreational games, including the faculty 50-meter breaststroke, student 50-meter breaststroke, “Underwater Tunnel” relay, faculty 50-meter freestyle, student 50-meter freestyle, “Flying Train” relay, “Duck Paddling” relay, “In the Same Boat” relay, and the freshman 100-meter medley relay. Notably, a major highlight of this year’s games was the participation of Jing-Mei Huang, a student from the Department of Agribusiness Management, who recently won fourth place in the women’s amateur 200-meter breaststroke at the 2026 National Intercollegiate Athletic Games.
Professor Ming-Hung Chen, Chair of the Department of Recreational Sport and Health Promotion, also led a large group of faculty and students from his department to passionately participate in various events. Professor Chen teamed up with fellow department teachers to compete directly alongside the students, demonstrating excellent teacher-student interaction and sportsmanship. Meanwhile, Professor Wei-Her Hsieh, Chair of the Department of Fashion Design and Management, participated in the Water Games for the first time. In addition to signing up for individual competitive events, he led a group of first-year students to challenge themselves in the freshman 100-meter medley relay, filling the venue with youthful vitality and competitive passion.
The freshman 100-meter medley relay was specifically designed to provide first-year students with a stage to showcase their swimming skills and teamwork. The event aimed to boost the students’ learning motivation and sense of belonging, by allowing them to find their own sense of achievement and honor through sports. Furthermore, the recreational games attracted numerous mixed teams of faculty and students. The participating teams displayed incredible synergy and cooperation, while filling the venue with continuous laughter and a warm interaction. The formal competitions were split into student and faculty divisions for the 50-meter freestyle and breaststroke, testing the participants’ swimming techniques and the results of their regular fitness training.
The NPUST Water Games not only highlight the flourishing development of campus sports but also symbolize the university’s commitment to the physical and mental well-being and the diverse learning experiences of its faculty, staff, and students. Moving forward, NPUST will continue to promote various sports activities and health promotion initiatives. These efforts will provide faculty and students with more opportunities to express themselves, build strong physiques, and foster a high-quality campus environment that blends vitality, health, and solidarity, creating deep and treasured memories for every member of the NPUST family.
