Queen’s heads for Fexco Asian Games 

20 October 2015

Queen’s is sending a novice squad of international female students to compete in this month's 20th Fexco Asian Games in Shanghai this weekend.

Teams from 23 clubs representing 13 countries across Asia, will battle it out on October 24-25 at the Shanghai Community Sports Club. It’s the first time a team from Northern Ireland has taken part and only the second from the island of Ireland, University College Dublin having participated last year in Malaysia.

The Fexco Asian Games are the largest Gaelic Games tournament in the world outside Ireland. The Queen’s team of 12 players and 2 back-up staff is supported by Queen’s University Sport, Queen’s Annual Fund, Motiv8, Queen’s International Office and Invest NI.

All playing members of the Queen’s team are new to the game, having only started training in April. All-Ireland winner and Queen’s GAA Development Officer, Aidan O’Rourke, coached the team with help from current Armagh and Queen’s players, Fionnuala McKenna and Caroline O’Hanlon.

Commenting on team progress Aidan said: “Working with the students in recent months has been a real pleasure. I’ve been involved with many teams over the years but I have to say these students have embraced the competitive and team ethos associated with the game more than most.

“Considering the language barriers and the fact they are all new to the sport, their skill levels improved dramatically as a result of their application and the strong bond they built with each other”.

The University’s team represents seven different countries - China, Malaysia, Thailand, USA, Portugal, Iran and Germany. In partnership with Queen’s International Recruitment, the players will act as ambassadors for the University during a number of scheduled visits to schools and colleges in Shanghai.

Prior to the tournament, the 9th Annual Asia-Pacific Irish Business Forum (APIBF) will be held on Friday 23 October 2015, in the Wyndham Grand Plaza Royale Oriental Hotel in Pudong, Shanghai.

Supported by Fexco, Invest Northern Ireland and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland, APIBF is the leading annual business event for Irish professionals based in Asia. The Forum plays an important role in supporting the promotion of Irish business interests in the region and is a valuable access point to Ireland for businesses. 

For Queen’s, the Games also represent an important opportunity to market the University to an Asian audience. Director of Queen’s Marketing, Communications and Internationalisation, Isabel Jennings, said: “The visit is aligned with Queen’s ongoing commitment to internationalisation and the key aim of increasing student mobility. Events and initiatives such as the Asian Games provide opportunities for our students to unlock their full potential in a global context.

“It is our hope that the Queen’s team will have an exceptional experience whilst representing the University at the Games and we congratulate those students who have made the squad, and wish them well for the event.”

Invest NI will be hosting a reception in Shanghai for Queen’s on Saturday 24 October which will provide an occasion when Queen’s alumni and businesses with a connection to the University can come together. Alumni and friends wishing to join the team at the reception should contact Maki Cao maki.cao@investni.com ASAP.

Michael Garvey, Director Asia-Pacific for Invest NI, commented: “It’s great to have Queen’s represented in the region and at the Games. We are delighted to partner with the University in Shanghai to help further our network and promote the exciting opportunities that exist for NI business”.

Queen’s officially launched the venture on Wednesday 9 September, at its Upper Malone complex before playing University College Dublin in an exhibition match at the Queen’s Sport Arena.

For further information on Queen’s participation in the Shanghai Games please contact the University’s Student Sport Development Manager Karl Oakes – tel: 077 7243 2454 – and remember to keep up with the 2015 Fexco Asian Games on Facebook.

Photo: With James McCartan (Double All-Ireland winner and Queen's graduate) are (left to right) - Precious Nwafor from Nigeria, Jasmine Zaibek from USA, Wanying Wang from China and Desiree Schliemann from Germany. Photo/Paul McErlane

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