The flag presentation ceremony for the 2026 National Intercollegiate Athletic Games (NIAG) was held at 12:30 p.m. on April 15 at the Shao-mo Memorial Gymnasium, where President Huan-Chao Keh presented the flag to Dean of Physical Education I-Cheng Chen. As competitions began, the soft tennis team quickly delivered encouraging early results, securing three silver medals in the men’s team (general division), women’s team (general division), and men’s doubles (general division), the latter won by Deng-Yi Huang (Electrical and Computer Engineering, first year) and Cheng-Chun Yang (Chemical and Materials Engineering, first year), boosting team morale.

A total of 11 teams are participating this year, including track and field, swimming, table tennis, badminton, tennis, taekwondo, judo, fencing, karate, soft tennis, and woodball, with nearly 150 athletes competing. Academic Vice President Hui-Huang Hsu, Administrative Vice President Chun-Hung Lin, and several faculty members attended the ceremony to show their support.

In his remarks, President Keh noted that Tamkang University’s teams have consistently delivered strong performances at the games, often ranking first among non-sports-specialized institutions. Last year, the university earned 5 gold, 6 silver, and 14 bronze medals. He expressed hope that this year’s athletes would surpass past achievements. He also emphasized that the university has been actively promoting physical education and a wide range of sports competitions. Through the collective efforts of the Office of Physical Education, it has received the Ministry of Education’s Outstanding Sports Achievement Award five times, reflecting the successful cultivation of “Cheerful Attitude and Healthy Lifestyle,” one of the university’s eight essential student competencies. He concluded by encouraging all athletes to uphold the spirit of sportsmanship, compete with safety as the top priority, strive for victory, and bring honor to the university.

Deng-Yi Huang, who earned a silver medal in his first competition, expressed gratitude to his coaches, senior teammates, and supporters, stating that the achievement marks an important milestone and that he will continue striving for the top. Cheng-Chun Yang also thanked the university for its strong support system and expressed his goal of improving his skills and turning future runner-up finishes into championships.

Soft tennis coach and Associate Professor Hsiao-Wen Chao noted that the men’s doubles team, composed entirely of freshmen, demonstrated remarkable composure and teamwork. The women’s team had only one returning member, with the rest all newcomers; they secured a silver medal in their debut, demonstrating tremendous potential. As for the men’s team, after falling out of the top three last year, they regrouped and significantly strengthened their performance this year. Although they were unable to claim the championship due to injuries and pressure affecting key players, the experience has become a driving force for future progress. The team also expressed special thanks to the soft tennis alumni association for its support, which enabled them to compete wholeheartedly without concerns and continue striving toward higher goals.

In addition to the soft tennis team’s achievements, the tennis team also performed well in the Northern Regional Championships. Chen-Yen Hung (second-year master’s student in Chemical and Materials Engineering) and Athip Poti (fourth-year International Business) won the men’s doubles title. At the same time, Yu-Tzu Weng (English, fourth year) and Yu-Chen Tsai (International Business, first year) claimed the mixed doubles championship. Ying-Shan Chang (AI, second year) and En-Chi Chang (Accounting, first year) finished second in women’s doubles, with several athletes advancing to the national finals. Coaches Associate Professor Yi-Min Fan Chiang and Assistant Professor Chia-Hsiung Chang praised the athletes’ strong preliminary performances and encouraged them to stay focused and confident in the finals, execute their strategies, and aim for further success.

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