SZE Aims for Major Sporting Triumphs in 2025

Created: 2025.01.16. 18:24

Széchenyi István University has achieved its best result ever in the Hungarian University-College National Championships (MEFOB) in the 2023-24 academic year. The institution, which is also one of the leaders in the sport, is preparing for great competitions and success again in 2025.

2024 was an outstanding year for sport at Széchenyi István University. After the successful MEFOB Fest, the students also excelled at the sporting MEFOBs, which resulted in the institution finishing fourth in the overall points competition, ahead of institutions such as the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, the University of Szeged, Semmelweis University and the University of Debrecen. Győr’s student-athletes have also excelled in international competitions, with 20 students winning the University Athlete of the Year award at the end of the year and two representing the institution at the Olympics. Swimmer Dalma Sebestyén received a Fair Play Award from the President of the International Fair Play Committee at the end of the year for giving up her right to compete in the World Championships to her competitor.

„We are proud of our student-athletes who have achieved outstanding results and have demonstrated their humanity. We are looking forward to another year of success in 2025, as Széchenyi István University is strong in many MEFOB sports. These include handball, basketball, rowing and judo, in keeping with the traditions of our institution and Győr. The University provides all the support our young people need to perform well in national and international competitions and helps them to prepare for their future careers. Our dual career model is designed to enable athletes to concentrate on their sporting careers while at the same time pursuing their studies, which prepares them for their civilian life,” said Dr Tamás Gyömörei, Head of the Sports and Recreation Centre of the University.

He highlighted the high quality of sporting activities at the university and the commitment of its staff and athletes, which have led to successes such as the bronze medal and world championship medal of the women’s basketball team at last year’s European University Games. „These achievements contribute to the international reputation of Széchenyi University and are examples that help to promote everyday physical activity. The institution has an outstanding sports infrastructure, which provides excellent opportunities for high quality competitive and recreational sports,” he stressed.

Petra Zsankó, a student of Széchenyi István University in Győr, won two gold medals and a sixth place at last year’s FISU World University Championships Cycling in Costa Rica and this year she is already joining the ranks of the professionals and competing in a Women’s World Tour team. „I’ve had a successful year, even though I fell ill towards the end of the World University Championships and the third category of the race didn’t go as planned. Another of my biggest achievements is that I made it to one of the World Tour teams,” said Petra Zsankó, who has achieved a huge success with this, after only four years of cycling. She stressed that the flexible attitude of the University and her lecturers, which allowed her to combine sport and learning, contributed to this. „2025 will be much busier, as my season starts this Sunday with a race in Spain, while I’m also starting the last semester of my Master’s degree and my thesis,” she said. She also added that she expects to gain experience and achieve better results in the world elite, both at individual and team level.

Petra Zsankó, a Master’s student of the Hungarian-taught Engineering Manager programme at Széchenyi István University, won two out of three road races at the World University Championships in Costa Rica last year (Photo: FISU – International University Sports Federation)

Győr’s men’s handball has been rebuilt on university foundations and the club is now one of the strongest teams in the domestic top league. As a student at Széchenyi University, Zalán Lang played an important role in the ETO University Handball Team’s NB I appearance and MEFOB victory. „The previous academic year brought us several unforgettable successes, including winning the national university championship in front of a home crowd and ETO’s promotion to the top flight. The Széchenyi University, which allows us to concentrate on our studies and live sport, has contributed greatly to this. The management, the teaching staff and the cooperating clubs are all partners in this,” he said.

At the start of the season, the whole handball community was up in arms about the transfer of players such as Dean Bombac and Uros Vilovski to Győr. „The positive impact they have had on the team and the youngsters has exceeded all expectations. We learn a lot from them, they help us with everything, even outside training, so it was not difficult to form a team,” he said. He concluded by saying that they will have to compete in a very tight field, but that they will do their best to please the crowd match after match in 2025.

Zalán Lang did a great job at the MEFOB Fest in Győr (Photo: András Adorján)