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● D-2: KHU Hosts Its First Ever Lion Match

The Lion Match, the first inter-university sports exchange between Kyung Hee University (KHU) and Hanyang University (HYU), was held on November 19 at KHU Global Campus. Sharing the lion as their mascot, the universities gathered for their first official athletic meeting, combining spirited competition with student-driven collaboration.

Behind the Scenes: How The Lion Match Took Shape

The idea for The Lion Match originated from KHU’s Office of External Development, with KHU’s College of Physical Education leading the planning and operations. HYU’s College of Performing Arts & Sport and ERICA College of Performing Arts and Sports joined as co-hosts. KHU’s student council of the Dept. of Physical Education explained that expanding inter-university athletic exchange was a major priority, noting, “The Lion Match was a meaningful attempt to create a new model of student-led sports culture.”

Preparations began in the summer. KHU organized teams in finance, planning, publicity, and external cooperation, while both college of HYU worked together with KHU to determine the events, establish rules, secure sponsorships, and coordinate promotional content. The council added, “Although four events—including baseball and volleyball—were initially considered, we ultimately decided on basketball and soccer to ensure smooth management during the one-day event.”

KHU and HYU players pose for a photo

KHU Secures Three Wins to Claim the First Lion Match Trophy

The event opened with the basketball club match at 10:45 a.m. After a close first half, KHU strengthened its lead in the second through fast breaks and strong rebounding, finishing with a 45–39 win. Go Sang-hyeon who participated in the match, said, “We trained two to three times a week because we really did not want to lose. I even traveled from home during my leave of absence. I’m so happy we won.”

KHU continued its momentum in the varsity basketball game, dominating early with coordinated defense and rapid offensive transitions. The team maintained its lead throughout, ending with a 77–51 victory. At the field hockey stadium, KHU scored in the first half of the soccer club match with a successful cross from the left flank and held firm defensively to secure the victory. In the varsity soccer match, both teams battled intensely, but unfortunately, HYU scored a powerful goal from outside the penalty arc just before the final whistle, handing KHU a 0–1 loss. Nevertheless, KHU finished the day with three wins and one loss, claiming the first Lion Match trophy.

Students Fuel the Spirit of The Lion Match

Students from both universities contributed significantly to the event’s lively atmosphere. Lee Kyu-won, a student from the Dept. of Sports Medicine said, “I was worried we might lose, but we won far more convincingly than I expected.” Won Seo-in, a student from the Dept. of Taekwondo said, “I saw the announcement on Instagram and headed straight to the stadium. Hearing our basketball victories boosted our school pride.”

HYU students also expressed their enthusiasm. Kim Ji-young, a student from the Dept. of Bio-pharmaceuticals at HYU serving as basketball club manager said, “It took over an hour to get here, but the event was larger than I expected. I definitely want to participate in future events.”

The Lion Match highlighted the enthusiasm, collaboration, and school pride of students from both universities. While KHU won the trophy, the true success lay in the camaraderie and energy shared throughout the day. Both universities hope to continue the exchange annually, potentially expanding the number of sports and involving even more students in future editions.