- 10
- Nov.
- 2024
The Université Saint-Joseph (USJ) women’s futsal team refused to let their circumstances define them, competing on the international stage and finishing third despite the ongoing war in Lebanon.
The USJ women’s futsal team clinched third place at the prestigious World InterUniversities Championships in Rome, Italy. Despite enduring over a month of war – with safety concerns, bombings, and the displacement of families and some players – these young athletes represented their country with pride and fortitude, raising the Lebanese flag high on the podium in the presence of 98 international universities.
This year’s 9th World InterUniversities Championships saw over 4,000 student-athletes from across the globe participate in 18 different competitions. USJ stood as the only team competing under such extreme and life-threatening circumstances, a factor that added immense admiration and value to their third-place finish. Advancing from fourth place in 2023 to third in 2024, USJ proudly represented Lebanon as the sole Lebanese team at the tournament.
The road to Rome wasn’t easy. With flight costs rising due to the conflict, players covered 50% of their travel expenses, amounting to $540 per student.
“During our stay, students from other universities were often surprised to see us among them. They kept asking about the situation in Lebanon, how we managed to come, and how we stayed fit and ready to compete,” USJ women’s futsal team coach Maroun al-Khoury said in an interview with This is Beirut.
Lebanon’s presence at the competition was nothing short of shocking to organizers and participants alike, earning the team a big round of applause at the crowning ceremony for their resilience and dedication.
“While watching some games, I ran into an old friend from Slovakia. He looked at me, walked on, then suddenly turned back and said, ‘I can’t believe you made it,’” Khoury added.
The tournament, held from November 6 to 10, was fierce, with the KU Leuven Falcons from Belgium taking first place, followed by Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia, in second. Yet, for USJ, finishing third was about more than medals – it was about showcasing Lebanese resilience and proving that Lebanon, despite its struggles, can still compete and excel internationally.
While many of the competing students from Europe and other advantaged regions may never experience the hardships faced by Lebanon’s youth, the spirit and determination of the USJ women’s futsal team shine as a beacon of hope.
“This time, we finished with the bronze medal, but we promise to bring home the gold next year in Barcelona,” Coach Khoury stated with pride.
Comments