Trinity College Dublin Student Targets World University Games
Posted on: 14 June 2013
Trinity College PhD student and Sports Scholarship recipient, Aisling Miller, has been selected to compete for Team Ireland in the sport of Air Rifle at the 27th World University Games when over 13,000 athletes and officials from approximately 180 countries are expected to descend on Kazan, the sporting capital of Russia, for 12 days of competition this July.
The Irish Team delegation for the World University Games was announced in Trinity College Dublin on 12th June by Student Sport Ireland, the organisation responsible for the presentation of delegations at World University level. Speaking at the event were Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring, Russian Ambassador to Ireland, Mr Maxim Peshkov and Irish Sports Council CEO, John Treacy.
Aisling, a third year PhD student in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, will compete in the Air Rifle 10m on Friday, 12th July. Aisling is ranked 1st nationally in Women’s Air Rifle and 2nd overall nationally in Men’s and Women’s Air Rifle. She has represented Ireland in the European Championships (Finland, 2012) as well as the London World Cup (2012) and achieved a London Olympic Qualifying Score in 2012.
“It is a great honour to represent Ireland and Trinity College Dublin at the World University Games in Russia,” stated Aisling at the recent launch event. “I am looking forward to competing at this high class level international event and enjoying the multi-sport arena that is just like the Olympic Games.”
Pictured at the announcement are CEO of the Irish Sports Council, John Treacy, Russian Ambassador to Ireland, Mr. Maxim Peshkov, Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring, Trinity student and competitor Aisling Miller, Trinity’s Sports Development Manager and Head of Delegation for Team Ireland Cathy Gallagher and Head of Sport at Trinity College Michelle Tanner.
Trinity College Sports Development Officer, Cathy Gallagher, has been selected for the second time to take on the role of Head of Delegation for Team Ireland going to Kazan. Cathy was also Head of Delegation for Team Ireland for the 2011 World University Games held in China and this will be her sixth attendance at the World University Games.
“Notwithstanding the ultimate goal of performance and achievement, students will have the unique opportunity to experience the cultural, interpersonal, camaraderie and lifetime synergies which are an integral part of the World University Games,” stated Cathy. ” It is fantastic that Trinity will be represented on the field of play by Aisling and I look forward to supporting her and the other athletes in Kazan in July.”
Team Ireland will comprise six sports and a delegation of some 90 people including student athletes, team officials and support staff. The event is the pinnacle of performance sport at third level and is second only to the Olympic Games in terms of size and participation.