MBA Olympics 2024: A day of glory for NUS MBA

By Ankit Rajadhyaksha & Soumyadeep Sen

A Roaring Start to the MBA Olympics

On a bright sunny morning, the annual MBA Olympics, hosted by Nanyang Technology University (NTU), kicked off with a dash of humour. The NTU mascot set the tone for the day with its endearing struggle to navigate the stairs, narrowly avoiding a tumble. The crowd erupted in laughter, their spirits high and ready for the day’s events. The cheerleading squad led a lively warm-up session that got everyone’s adrenaline pumping. The stage was set for an unforgettable day of a not-so-friendly competition.

The Shota and Michael Show

The track events, the first of the day, began with the much-anticipated Dean’s Relay led by Prof Jochen and the captain of the track events, Vishwa. The race was so meteoric, and our players were flawless in their path to glory. NUS emerged as the undisputed champions of the track events, clinching Gold in the Dean’s Relay, 100-meter and 200-meter races. Our runners, Michael and Shota, were so dominant that they spent half the race looking back and playfully taunting their opponents.

Credit: Photo by David Chew (Part-time MBA 2021)

NUS Shines in Badminton, Sweeps all Medals!

The next event of the day was badminton, and we swept the medals in all categories. The highlight of the badminton event was the women’s singles, where Kahyun Kim breezed through her matches, defeating her opponents with ease and grace. The mixed doubles were the crowd pullers, as they featured some close and thrilling contests. The crowd was on the edge of their seats, cheering every smash and intricate placement by our players, as well as heckling the opponents.

Gold, Gold, Gold! Gold Everywhere! NUS Clinches Gold Medals in Table Tennis & Basketball

The next event of the day was table tennis, from which NUS bagged one gold medal and two silvers. The gold was won by Poy, who outplayed her opponents with her speed and accuracy. She was unstoppable, winning every match with a comfortable margin.

After a delicious lunch and some traditional Singaporean ice cream sandwiches, our basketball team took the court, ready to dominate the tournament. They were the Dream Team, unbeaten and unstoppable. They looked like a team that was coached by Kobe Bryant himself. CJ and Hiro were hitting three-pointers like Steph Curry, raining down shots from beyond the arc. Liyu Fu was ice cold in her free throws, sinking them with ease and confidence.

Credit: Photo by David Chew (Part-time MBA 2021)

The Invincibles!

Last was the Futsal tournament. NUS’ group stage games were against SP Jain and NTU. NUS dominated both games and showed their prowess. The 2 victories set up the much-anticipated game against ESSEC, who had won each of their 2 group stage games by 5 goal margins. Shota Adachi opened the scoring with a direct goal from a corner kick, beating the goalkeeper from the most acute of angles! While the defence continued to hold their shape, Ryuhei Ikeda, scored the goal of the tournament to put the game to rest. The game ended 3-0 in NUS’ favour. The team ended the tournament without conceding a single goal and were deservedly crowned champions!

A Celebration of Camaraderie and the Indomitable Spirit

The MBA Olympics was not just a day of competition, but a celebration of camaraderie, sportsmanship, and the indomitable spirit of the MBA community. As we look back on this memorable day, we are reminded of the laughter, the triumphs, and the bonds forged on the field. Here’s to the champions, the participants, and the unforgettable moments that made the MBA Olympics 2024 a roaring success!

Credit: Photo by Faisal (Full-time MBA 2023)

Credit: Photo by David Chew (Part-time MBA 2021)