Game, Set, Global Match: Humber Badminton Stars Head to Germany
As part of Canada's badminton delegation, Humber's Sherry Wu and Timothy Lock will compete at the XXXII Summer World University Games—better known as the Rhine‑Ruhr 2025 FISU Games—in Mülheim an der Ruhr from July 16 to 27.
The FISU World University Games trace their lineage to the first interwar "World Student Games" in Paris (1923), evolving through various incarnations until the International University Sports Federation (FISU) was founded in 1949. In 1959, the merged event was officially christened the Universiade in Turin—ushering in a modern global fixture that now attracts thousands of university athletes from over 100 countries every two years. Today's FISU Games represent one of the world's largest multi-sport events, blending academic ambition, cultural exchange, and elite-level competition.
For Wu and Lock, the Games are both the culmination of years of dedication and a launching pad onto a global stage. Wu was dominant in her first season with the Hawks, winning a national silver medal while earning OCAA Player of the Year honours. Lock is no stranger to the big stage after he won three gold medals at the 2023 Canada Badminton National Championships. Last season in the navy and gold, Lock became just the second Humber player to win a CCAA title in the men's singles discipline.
Badminton itself has become an established FISU discipline, added as an optional sport in 2007 and fully integrated into the core program by 2025. The Westenergie Sports Hall in Mülheim, renowned for its international-standard facilities, will host men's, women's, doubles, mixed doubles, and team events over ten days.
Wu will be competing with teammate Kiren Milan Deraj in the mixed doubles discipline, while Lock will compete in men's singles and with Chloe Hoang (Ontario Tech) in the mixed doubles discipline.
Beyond medals, the Games offer an unparalleled chance to engage in intercultural learning. FISU's vibrant atmosphere—from networking events to sustainability workshops and academic forums—mirrors its mission to unite "Excellence in Mind and Body".
Wu and Lock will join thousands of fellow student-athletes, creating memories and forging connections across borders. The complete FISU schedule can be found here.
