Kilcock's Kevin is set for World Games

A Co Kildare student is one of eight picked for the World University Games.

DCU student, Kevin Kelly, Kilcock, is one of eight DCU students that have been selected to compete at the 29th World University Games, Taipei, Taiwan from the this August 19- 30.

Kevin and the other athletes will represent DCU and Ireland as they compete with other student athletes from around the world.  In total, 10,000 athletes will come together in Taipei to compete in over 300 medal events, across 21 sports at the World University Games.

The  third-year education and training major, is part of the St. Cocas Athletics Club in Kilcock.  At DCU, he received the Fresher of the Year award.  He picked up two silver medals over 1500m indoor and outdoor track in 2014 and won the outdoor varsity 1500m in 2015.   He was also part of the winning road relay team in 2015 for DCU.  This season, Kevin has improved his personal best from 3.50.81 to 3.43.54.  He was also selected for the European U23 Championships and came in 2nd place at the National Championships over 1500m.

Yvonne McGowan, DCU’s Senior Sports Development Officer said: "The World University Games is the pinnacle of all University Sporting competition.  To be selected to compete on the global stage for Team Ireland at the World University Games is a huge achievement and a testament to the hard work and dedication of the athletes.  DCU develops and supports elite athletes through the Sport Scholarship programme and we are now extremely proud to be supporting our athletes as they compete at the 29th World University Games. We would like to congratulate all eight athletes for their achievements and wish them every success in Taipei."

The World University Games, also known as the Summer Universiade, are held every two years under the auspices of FISU, the International University Sports Federation. The Games are second in size only to the Olympics with around 13,000 competitors and officials participating. The 2017 WUG programme will compromise of fourteen compulsory sports and eight optional sports which are determined by the relevant host country. The Games are an established part of high performance programmes for many Irish athletes in a range of different sport and offer the opportunity to compete in a global multi-sport environment.

Full schedules are now available from the official Universiade 2017 at www.2017.taipei/home