Obtaining a total of 22 gold medals, 16 silver medals, and 16 bronze medals, the University of Cauca stood out for its significant participation in the ASCUN DAF 2023 Regional Games for University Students. Furthermore, in the National Games for University Officials, Faculty, and Administrators ASCUN DAF 2023, a total of 4 gold medals, 5 silver medals, and 1 bronze medal were achieved. Both sporting events, which took place in Cali, Pasto, and the Coffee Region, were reasons for celebration during the months of April and May 2023.

The Colombian Association of Universities (ASCUN) was founded in 1959 with the aim of promoting cooperation, knowledge exchange, and defending the common interests of higher education institutions. Currently composed of over 200 universities, both public and private, besides representing and defending their interests before government entities, ASCUN has positioned itself as a major promoter of university sports at the national level, fostering integration, camaraderie, and healthy competition among all university sectors.

ASCUN operates through various lines of work, including the University Welfare Network, which includes "ASCUN DAF, Sports, and Physical Activity." This branch is responsible for directing projects, programs, recreational, formative, and competitive activities among different higher education institutions in the country. Through an organizational system comprising 6 nodes (Antioquia, Bogota, Caribbean, Central, East, and West, the latter of which we are part of as the University of Cauca), it develops - among other activities - the university sports agenda that starts with departmental games. These games involve universities affiliated with ASCUN from each of Colombia's departments.

Following these initial competitions, the regional games proceed, where winning teams from the departmental phase compete against winners from other departments. In the case of the West Node, competition takes place among the winners of Nariño, Valle, and Cauca. Then, it continues with the final phase, where competitions are held between winners from different nodes across the country, resulting in national champions. It's worth noting that the sports agenda involves two major participant segments: one designed exclusively for students and another for officials, faculty, and administrators. Usually, during the first academic semester of the year, departmental and regional sports games are held, and the national games take place in the second semester.

In the current academic year's first period, the Regional Games for University Students and the National Games for University Officials, Faculty, and Administrators were held due to being postponed the previous year at the request of the host node. Therefore, during this first academic semester, at the national games, we had the great joy of becoming national champions in the Over-45 Soccer Tournament with a team comprising officials, faculty, and administrators: [Andres Jose Dulcey Cepeda, Carlos Alberto Valencia Ceron, Deibar Rene Hurtado Herrera, Diego Alexander Rivera Gomez, Diego Jesus Macias Pinto, Franklin Ignacio Torres Cabrera, Franklyn Mosquera Pisso, Humberto Polanco Osorio, Jairo Roa Fajardo, Jesus Santiago Garzon Pacheco, Jorge Enrique Barrera Moreno, Manuel Antonio Burbano Goyes, Mario Jair Campo Trochez, Nairo Burbano Sanchez, Pedro Anibal Yanza Mera, Robert Alfredo Euscategui Pachon, Tulio Emiro Lopez Erazo, Víctor Felipe Teran Gomez y Yoner Fernando Campo Erazo.]. Our outstanding footballers were coached by Jose Noack Klinger Hernandez and were supported by kinesiologist Gerardo Antonio Zapata Guzman and physiotherapy student Duberney Diaz Semanate.

In Table Tennis, Daniel Alberto Jaramillo Morillo won a silver medal in men's doubles, while Jeison Andres Casallas Beltrán secured a gold medal in men's singles. They were accompanied by coach Nelson David Cuasapud Bolaños and physiotherapy student Yehisy Carina Guaitaco Velasco.

Two promising young athletes excelled in Athletics. Christian Nicolas Figueroa Martinez secured two silver medals and one gold, and Eduardo Andres Cañola Sotelo achieved one gold, one silver, and one bronze medal. Both were accompanied by physiotherapy lecturer Viviana Marcela Celis Quinayas.

Thus, in the ASCUN DAF 2023 National Games for University Officials, Faculty, and Administrators, the University of Cauca obtained a total of 4 gold, 5 silver, and 1 bronze medals, thanks to the discipline, effort, and dedication of our officials, faculty, and administrators, who, in addition to their academic activities and work responsibilities, managed to find time for training, reaping the fruits of their efforts.

Moving on to the Regional Games for University Students 2023, held in Cali, in the discipline of Weightlifting, students [Angela Dayana Mejia Mejia, Erika Paola Cifuentes Reyes, Luisa Fernanda Gonzales Orozco, Luz Norella Gongora Herrera, Diego Alexander Bolaños Muñoz y Juan David Calderon Muñoz] won three gold medals each, bringing home 18 gold medals. Regarding silver medals, student Heneider Osias Hurtado Candelo obtained 1 medal, and Jose Fernando Ibarra Gimbuel and Juan Manuel Parra Casagua secured three silver medals each, totaling 7 silver medals. Lastly, students Luisa Fernanda Escobar Gómez and Michel Andrea Gutiérrez Vallejo earned three bronze medals each, resulting in 6 bronze medals. The students were coached by Jhon Hernan Gurrute Arteaga and accompanied by physiotherapy student Andres Felipe Aguirre Figueroa.

In Chess, a strategic and skill-based game, students [Brigeth Vanessa Bolaños Calvache, Irma Fernanda Carvajal Carvajal, Karen Estefania Muñoz Hoyos, Carlos Andres Tobar Beltran, Christian Camilo Muñoz Romero y Jorge Esteban Tobar Beltran] achieved a total of 5 gold, 5 silver, and 2 bronze medals in male and female team categories, Blitz, and Classic modalities. They were trained by Ivan Felipe Enriquez Mendez.

In Karate Do, a Japanese martial art focusing on personal defense techniques, student Kimberly Jhoana Montero Rodríguez won 2 silver medals in the advanced category, while Bryan David Plazas Paz, Juan José Pacheco Daza, and Yeiner Bolaños Cerón, in the intermediate category, each obtained three gold medals in Kata and additionally, Bolaños Cerón secured a silver and bronze medal in Kata and Kumite, respectively. The students were trained by Jesús Absalón Muñoz Ñañez and supported by physiotherapy student Karen Tatiana Montilla Narváez.

In Tennis, students [María José Rodríguez Bermeo, Valentina Ramírez Cepeda, Carlos Daniel Orozco Agudelo y Juan Pablo Muñoz Paz] each obtained a bronze medal in the doubles category, coached by Luis Fernando Avirama Núñez and accompanied by physiotherapy student Camila Victoria Parra Pilimue.

Regarding the discipline of 3x3 Basketball, the team comprising [Juan Carlos Hernández Angulo, Mario David Moncayo Ortiz, Miguel Ángel Galíndez Ocampo, Ricardo Valentino Vélez Ávila, Ronald David Guzmán Vargas y William Fernando Garcés Viáfara] secured a bronze medal, clinching the third position in the tournament. They were under the guidance of coach Felipe Grijalba Gómez and physiotherapy student Gerardo Antonio Zapata Guzmán.

Moreover, in the Regional Games for University Students ASCUN DAF 2023 held in Pasto, the Women's Futsal Team earned the second place and the silver medal. The effort and dedication of the student athletes [Dania Karina Montealegre Ordoñez, Daniela Gómez Dorado, Deicy Rossely Salazar Benavides, Dorley Fabiana Parra Jiménez, Gloria Marcela Chávez Lasso, Heidy Yurani Solano Figueroa, Heyam Alejandra Hamad Egas, Lineth Vanessa Yanten Zúñiga, Solangie Nayive Jurado Guamanga, Yarlie Alejandra Melenje Muñoz, Yineth Alejandra Gaviria Dorado, Yuliana Marcela Burbano Muñoz] alongside their coach Andrés Felipe Rodríguez Duque and physiotherapy lecturer Viviana Marcela Celis Quinayas led to this achievement.

In Table Tennis, a total of 10 medals, 5 silver, and 5 bronze were secured due to the outstanding performance of students [Annie Katherine Barco Benítez, Danna Valentina Martínez Arango, Laura Daniela Torres Artunduaga, Valeria Mopán Giraldo, David Sebastián Rosero Portilla and Juan José Estupiñán López,] along with their coach Nelson David Cuasapud Bolaños and physiotherapy student Yehisy Carina Guaitaco Velasco.

Lastly, in Women's Volleyball, the team coached by Julián Andrés Álzate Valencia and accompanied by physiotherapy student Camila Victoria Parra Pillimue secured the third place, earning the bronze medal. The exceptional performance of students [Angie Vanessa López Dulce, Karen Estefanía Mora Manzano, Laura Camila Estefanía Paz Benavides, Laura Isabel Muñoz Gallego, Lesly Tatiana López Rodríguez, María Fernanda Martínez Moreno, María Alejandra Girón Menco, María Camila Muñoz Ordoñez, Sandra Fabiana Quiñones Paladines, Silhi Dayana Muñoz Rave, Yahira Claritza Caicedo Solís and Yenir Tatiana Ipia Camayo.] contributed to this success.

Finally, we invite those embarking on their university journey to become part of this great sporting legacy. From this University of Excellence and Solidarity that we strengthen day by day, we will continue to provide the best practice scenarios. Additionally, we will strive to foster, from the management level and particularly from the Vice-Rectorate of Culture and Welfare, the necessary actions to ensure our local, departmental, regional, and national sports participation remains a resounding success.

Congratulations to each and every one of the promising or already consolidated sports delegations! Thank you for coloring the podiums with blue and red; you are all a #PrideOfUnicauca.

In the PDF below, you can find the participation of each athlete.

(https://www.unicauca.edu.co/versionP/sites/default/files/files/Informe_P...)