September 4, 2019
At the 30th Summer Universiade held in Naples, Italy, from July 3 to 14, Nao Sato, a first-year student at the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies, won the gold medal in the women's singles tennis competition and the bronze medal in the doubles.
Ms. Sato is an active member of the Keio University Athletic Association Tennis Club.
The Universiade is a multi-sport event organized by the International University Sports Federation (FISU) and is commonly known as the "Olympics for students."
At the 2019 games, Japan won 33 gold, 21 silver, and 28 bronze medals, tying with Russia for the most medals in the world. In women's singles tennis, a Japanese player won the gold medal for the first time in three games.
Comment from Nao Sato
I never thought I could win at the Universiade, so I am truly happy.
On major stages like the French Open and the Youth Olympic Games, I always finished as the runner-up, which was frustrating. At the Universiade, so many people cheered me on, and I believe that is why I was able to win. The feeling of standing on the podium is something I will never forget.
From now on, I will continue to practice and train to keep improving my skills and will do my best to raise my world ranking. Thank you for your support.
Source: General Affairs Section, Shonan Fujisawa Campus (SFC) Office