Olympic table tennis player Marcos Madrid, originally from Puebla, has been appointed as the next director of the newly created University of Sports in the state. This educational institution aims to train local athletes for national and international competitions and will have a capacity of 150,000 students.
At a press conference, the governor of Puebla, Alejandro Armenta Mier, presented the new appointments at the University of Sports. In addition to Marcos Madrid as the head of the table tennis school, Sergio Niño Blásquez will lead the boxing school. Armenta highlighted that two table tennis courts will be built in each primary school in the state to promote this sport, considered one of the most complex, second only to chess.
Marcos Madrid is recognized as the best table tennis player in Mexico and ranks 132nd in the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) ranking. Meanwhile, "Checo" Niño is the coach of Gabriela "La Bonita" Sánchez, the current silver champion of the World Boxing Council.
The University of Sports will offer various degrees, including Sports Management and Administration, Sports Psychology, Sports Communication, Physical Culture with specializations in basketball, soccer, and baseball, as well as Sports Sciences. The campus will be located at the Zaragoza Stadium in the Los Fuertes area.
Efforts are being made with the National Institute of Anthropology and History to obtain the necessary permits. The governor mentioned that the cost of the university will be less than half of what was invested in the International Baroque Museum, and there will be no recourse to financing through Public Service Provision Projects or Public Private Partnerships.
On another note, the Secretary of Youth and Sports, Gabriela "La Bonita" Sánchez, announced the Inaugural Ceremony of the National Sports Games of Basic Education 2024-2025 scheduled for March 31 at the Miguel Hidalgo gym. The event marks the state stage and has the collaboration of the state's Secretary of Education and the Directorate of Physical Education. Sánchez emphasized the importance of promoting sports from an early age to develop both successful athletes and exemplary individuals.
