By Chinedu Onyejelem

Canadian-born soccer goalkeeper Eve Badana is among the team representing Ireland at the 29th World University Games in Taipei, Taiwan.

The games, which comprise the biggest international sporting event behind the Olympics, run from 19-30 August will host more than 10,000 athletes from across the world vying for over 300 medals in 21 sports.

According to Student Sport Ireland, Team Ireland has 64 athletes representing the country in four core sports: athletics, diving, swimming and soccer.

One of those representing Ireland is Badana, the Cork City FC and Republic of Ireland senior women’s goalkeeper who’s understood to be the only Team Ireland member born outside of Ireland and the UK.

Born in Markham, Canada, the 24-year-old previously worked as a legal assistant and researcher in Toronto before moving to Cork to study law at UCC.

Badana also played varsity soccer for the Dragons of Drexel University in Philadelphia, USA – and served as the intramural sports supervisor for that college’s recreation centre.

Last month, Taiwanese Ambassador Simon Tu joined Sport Ireland chief John Treacy and Student Sport Ireland (SSI) chair Carmel Lynch to meet Badana and her fellow athletes, and wish them luck ahead of the games.

“It is a great opportunity for you to represent your country on the global stage, and I congratulate you all on your selection after so much hard work and dedication. And of course, I hope you will come home with plenty of medals,” said Tu during the event at the new National Sports Campus.

Treacy told the Irish delegation he was pleased with the wealth of talent representing Ireland in Taiwan. 

“The number of athletes reaching the games, and the fact that there are a number of Olympians among the travelling delegation, shows the calibre of athletes we have in our third-level institutions,” he said.

Echoing their comments, Lynch told the athletes that the whole country is behind them. 

“I have no doubt that under the guidance of the head of delegation and her staff and all coaches, managers and support staff, the student athletes will do our country proud on a world stage,” she added.