Shangluo 2026 Concludes with Memorable Finals
Jul. 9, Shangluo, China – The ISF World School Volleyball Championship – Shangluo 2026 came to a spectacular conclusion after welcoming 1,074 participants from 31 delegations, making it the largest ISF WSC Volleyball held since the pandemic. Following one week of world-class volleyball, educational activities and cultural exchange, student-athletes departed Shangluo with new friendships, unforgettable memories and championship titles decided in front of enthusiastic local crowds.
The Finals provided a fitting finale to the championship. In the girls' competition, Chinese Taipei claimed the gold medal after defeating Türkiye, while China secured the bronze medal.
The boys' Final produced one of the most dramatic matches of the tournament. Türkiye and Greece battled through a thrilling five-set contest filled with momentum swings and narrow margins, with Türkiye eventually prevailing by the slimmest of differences in the deciding set to claim the world title. While host team of China again completed the podium with the bronze medal.
The Closing Ceremony was attended by representatives of ISF, the Federation of China University and School Sports (FOCUSS), the Shaanxi Provincial Government, the Shangluo Municipal Government and the Local Organising Committee. The championship was officially declared closed by Wen Lin, Vice Mayor of Shangluo, bringing an unforgettable week of school volleyball to its conclusion.
Beyond the competition itself, Shangluo introduced several innovations that enriched the overall championship experience.
A newly developed outdoor volleyball venue, combined with a professional sport presentation team with Olympic experience, transformed matches into engaging public celebrations, creating an energetic atmosphere for both participating delegations and local spectators while further strengthening Shangluo's ambition to grow as a city with a strong volleyball culture.
Away from the courts, the Local Organising Committee further expanded delegation services through cooperation with local tourism partners. In addition to the official Cultural Day programme, participating delegations and families travelling under the ISF Family & Friends Package were offered opportunities to explore Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi province but also of the Qin Dynasty with a history of three thousand years, as well as other destinations across China, extending the championship experience beyond competition and strengthening connections between international visitors and the host country.
The successful conclusion of Shangluo 2026 also marks the completion of the first half of the ISF's 2026 calendar. The global school sport community now looks ahead to the ISF Football World Cup – Suzhou 2026 in October, the ISF World School Golf Championship – Taghazout–Agadir 2026 in November, and finally the ISF Gymnasiade – Rio de Janeiro 2026 in December, where another generation of student-athletes will come together through sport, education and cultural exchange.
