Following the Opening Ceremony held on July 18, the European Universities Games 2026 wasted no time returning to the field of play as the sporting programme continued. Basketball and Padel tournaments got underway, and competitions continued on Futsal, Table Tennis and Volleyball.

Across the venues in Salerno, student-athletes took to the courts for another day of high-level university sport, while preparations continued ahead of the first Beach Handball competition day.

The Basketball tournament tipped off with an exciting first day of competition, as both the men's and women's tournaments got underway. The atmosphere was vibrant and competitive, with teams beginning their group-stage.  A total of 12 matches were played across four courts, immediately showcasing the quality of the competition, with closely contested encounters where every possession and every point proved crucial. 

The Padel tournament also began, marking the official debut of this sport at the European Universities Games. The brand-new padel courts of the University of Salerno Sports Centre welcomed both men’s and women’s teams.

The competition opened with all groups in action, featuring four men's groups and four women's groups. Throughout the day, players demonstrated impressive technical ability and tactical awareness, setting the stage for an exciting tournament in one of Europe's fastest-growing sports.

While competition was taking place on the courts, preparations continued ahead of the first competition day of the Beach Handball tournament.

The Table Tennis tournament continued with another full day of competition, featuring fast-paced rallies, precise ball placement, controlled spin variations, and sharp counterattacking play. Players demonstrated excellent footwork, consistency in service and receive, and strong tactical awareness, producing closely contested matches as the competition advanced through the preliminary stages.

The Volleyball competition also continued with an action-packed schedule of matches, showcasing powerful attacking plays, well-organised defensive systems, and effective blocking at the net. Teams combined accurate serving, disciplined reception, quick offensive transitions, and coordinated teamwork to deliver high-quality performances, with every set reflecting the intensity and competitive standard of the European Universities Games 2026.

The Futsal competition continued with another exciting day of matches, characterised by high-tempo play, quick passing combinations, and constant transitions between attack and defence. Teams demonstrated excellent ball control, tactical discipline, and coordinated pressing, while goalkeepers made crucial saves and players capitalised on fast breaks and set-piece opportunities. The closely contested encounters highlighted the technical quality, intensity, and competitive spirit of the tournament as the group stage progressed.

The General Technical Meeting brought together representatives of the participating universities, EUSA officials and members of the Local Organising Committee to review the competition regulations, technical procedures and organisational details before the first matches.

The meeting was joined by EUSA Chair Ivana Ertlova, EUSA Technical Delegate Marco Trespidi and EUSA Assistant Technical Delegate Ana Diez Fernandez, who welcomed representatives of the participating teams and presented the final information ahead of the competition.

With eight men's teams and eight women's teams ready to compete on the sand, Beach Handball will officially start tomorrow, adding another dynamic and spectacular sport to the EUG 2026 programme.

As more tournaments join the sport schedule, the European Universities Games 2026 continue to transform Salerno into a vibrant celebration of university sport, bringing together thousands of student-athletes from across Europe to compete, connect and create lasting memories.

You can follow results from all the disciplines currently underway at the European Universities Games at results.eusa.eu