EUSA Insider:

Haoyu Liu

Age:                   29
Place of Birth:  Hunan, China
University:        University of Nottingham (GBR)
Sport:                Table Tennis                                                                                    Published 27 August 2019

How and why did you get involved in Table Tennis?
I started to play table tennis at the age of six. The coaches found me in my primary school, and thought I had the talent to play table tennis after I finished their tests.  

What do you study, and how do you balance your study, training and competition?
I am doing PhD in Operation Management at the University of Nottingham, and I have just finished my first year. It’s not easy to balance study, training and competition, especially for a PhD student. However, I think I am a person with good self-discipline and time-management. We have table tennis training sessions from 5-8pm during on week days, so I spend day time and night time studying. During the pre-camp and competition weeks, table tennis is my priority.



Tell us about your experiences at the European Universities Championships 2019. Was it your first time at a EUSA event, and what did you enjoy the most?
I really enjoyed the week in Camerino. This is the second time I attended a EUSA competition, the first being in Olomouc in 2017. I think the organisation team did a really good job – although the city is a little bit isolated, the organisation team provided high level of services in terms of volunteers, catering, transportation and leisure activities. Moreover, I especially liked the floor of the competition hall, which was very professional. We have this floor in our university as well, so it makes me show all my skills without thinking about slipping.

Why do you think taking part in university sport is important?
I think having a dual-career is very important.

"Train, study, do your best. Enjoy your dual career."

Next year the European Universities Games are taking place in Belgrade, Serbia. Are you hoping to be there, and if so, what do you hope to achieve?
Yes, I want to attend next year’s EUSA Games. I hope I can get at least one gold medal as I got two bronze and one silver medal this year.

What is your favourite university sport moment?
I enjoy all the moments of winning matches, haha!



What is your message to European student-athletes like yourself?
Actually, I really like the slogan of EUSA. Train, study, do your best. Enjoy your dual career. This is what I want to follow and deliver to others like me.

EUSA would like to congratulate Haoyu for her success at the 2019 European Universities Championships, and we hope to see her next year at the European Universities Games 2020 in Belgrade, Serbia!