European University Games Salerno 2026: Italy clinches volleyball gold amid medal surge

The European University Games (EUG) 2026, hosted in the Salerno region of Italy, concluded with the University of Bologna winning the women's volleyball final, defeating Vytautas Magnus University 3‑1 to secure Italy's first gold of the multi‑sport event.

In the men's volleyball final, France's University of Montpellier overcame Germany's University of Rostock 3‑1, snapping Rostock’s title defense. Hungary dominated the beach handball tournaments, taking gold in both the men’s and women’s events. Spanish university teams swept the padel competition, with Lucas Orduna Dejoz and Jorge Ferre Sainz (men) and Elena De la Rosa Ramos and Ainhoa Garcia Yepes (women) claiming gold.

Poland's Zamojski Academy captured all three podium spots in table tennis, with Szymon Kolasa winning the men’s singles final. Overall, the games featured over 4,000 athletes from 173 universities across 31 nations, with 13 disciplines contested over fifteen days. Director General Michele Di Ruocco highlighted the massive logistical effort, noting more than 1,500 matches and a volunteer force of 600.

The event showcased a broad distribution of medals among European universities, underscoring the growing competitiveness of university sport on the continent.