At the Dubai 2025 Asian Para Youth Games, all eyes were on Chinese Taipei’s Chen Po-Yen—Paralympic silver medalist, Virtus Global Games champion, and ITTF World No. 1. With a reputation built on consistency and world-class skill, Chen entered the tournament carrying immense expectations. And once again, he delivered a performance that proved why he is one of the rising stars of para table tennis.

After dominating his round-robin group, Chen advanced to the semi-finals, where he faced Thailand’s TECHO Master Narawit. Though Narawit put up a determined fight, Chen controlled the match with confidence and precision, winning comfortably 3–0 (11–8, 11–3, 11–7) to secure his place in the final.

The championship match, however, pushed him to his limits. Up against Indonesia’s Dwiputra Muhammad Alfigo, Chen found himself immediately under pressure as his opponent attacked early and took the first set 11–7. But champions respond when adversity strikes.

Chen returned with renewed intensity and dominated the second set 11–2. What followed were two fiercely contested sets where both players fought point for point. With unwavering focus, Chen edged ahead—11–9, 11–8—and claimed the gold medal from the Dubai 2025 Asian Para Youth Games.

After the match, Chen openly reflected on how tough the final truly was:

“I had faced my opponent earlier in the preliminary rounds. In the final, he changed his pace and really exploited my weaknesses. It was a very tough battle.”

Despite his global ranking and experience, Chen admitted he had doubts:

“Even with my coach’s advice, I honestly wasn’t that confident about winning the gold. On a scale of one to ten, I would say my confidence was only a five.”

His proudest moment came earlier in the competition:

“Overcoming a 1–0 deficit in the semi-final and managing to fight back was one of the key moments of the tournament.”

This victory adds to an already exceptional year for Chen. Earlier in 2025, he captured both the singles and men’s doubles titles in the II1 category at the Virtus World Table Tennis Championship, strengthening his position as one of the world’s top young athletes.

For Chen, ending the season with another gold felt deeply meaningful:

“Winning the final tournament of the year is the perfect ending and a great conclusion to my year.”

With Dubai now behind him, Chen Po-Yen turns his focus toward an even greater goal—the 2026 Asian Para Games in Nagoya, where he is determined to chase yet another gold.

The final day of the 2025 Virtus  World Futsal Championships in Torrevieja, Spain delivered everything the sport is known for—emotion, strategy, heart, and unforgettable history. With medals on the line and national pride at stake, the four remaining teams—Japan, Portugal, the Neutral Team, and France—stepped onto the court one last time to determine their fate on the world stage.

Japan Claims Its First Virtus Futsal World Championship Medal — A Historic Bronze

Team Japan celebrating their bronze medal at the 2025 Virtus  World Futsal Championship. Photo Credit: FEDDI

Japan’s journey reached its long-awaited breakthrough as they fought France for the bronze medal. France struck first and held a 0–1 lead at halftime, but the break ignited a fire in the Japanese squad.

The second half saw a transformed Japan—stronger, sharper, fearless.
They scored twice, France responded once, and the match closed in a tense 2–2 draw, forcing extra time.

The first period of extra time was a relentless back-and-forth battle.
In the second, Japan found the moment they had been searching for—a decisive strike for 3–2, and a heroic defensive stand until the final second.

Japan had done it. History made. Their first Virtus Futsal World Championship medal.

Captain Shun Tokumaru celebrated the moment with pride and ambition:

“We are very happy that Japan won the bronze. We fought well against the world champions Portugal, and now we beat France. In two years, at the Virtus Global Games in Egypt, we will come back stronger and fight for the championship title.”

Portugal Claims Its Sixth World Title 

Tea Portugal receiving their sixth championship title at the 2025 Virtus World Futsal Championships. Photo Credit: FEDDI

The gold medal match brought together two of the tournament’s strongest forces: five-time champions Portugal and the determined Neutral Team.

The opening half was a tactical deadlock—0–0, neither side allowing a single weakness. But behind the scenes, Portugal was preparing something special.

What followed was a masterclass.

Portugal unleashed a wave of attacks in the second half, striking with precision, unity, and the confidence of champions. The Neutrals responded once, but the Portuguese were unstoppable, closing the match 3–1 and lifting their sixth Virtus World Championship trophy.

Match-winner Fabio Costa revealed the turning point:

“We cooked up a few things after the first half in the dressing room. Family unity, team unity—we used it, and we won. We just had to win this title.”

Teammate Guilherme Silva added:

“We tried many shots in the first half but couldn’t score. So we kept attacking, believing the ball would go in. And it did. We stayed united and repeated our strategy until the end.”

With emotion and pride, the Portuguese squad closed with one powerful message:

“We are very proud to win this title for the sixth time. Tonight, we celebrate.”

Team Neutral receiving their silver medal at the 2025 Virtus  World Futsal Championships. Photo Credit?: FEDDI

From Japan’s historic bronze to Portugal’s commanding sixth title, the 2025 Virtus Futsal World Championship delivered extraordinary performances and unforgettable drama. Spain, the host nation, provided the perfect atmosphere—passion, energy, and a celebration worthy of world-class athletes.

A championship to remember.
Legends crowned.
New history written.

The journey continues toward the Virtus Global Games Egypt 2027—and the world will be watching.

Virtus, the international federation for athletes with an intellectual impairment, is proud to announce a new partnership with GameDay that provides sports management technology solutions worldwide.

Working in partnership with GameDay, Virtus will implement a fully integrated global membership platform that unites its international members, disciplines, and regions into one centralised system. This modernised structure will provide a single source of truth for administrators, enabling more efficient competition management and enhancing the overall experience for athletes, coaches, and stakeholders.

Ross Heaviside, EMEA Account Manager at GameDay, said,

“We are delighted to support Virtus in delivering a unified and modern membership ecosystem for their global community. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to improving access, efficiency, and pathways within international sport. We look forward to working closely with Virtus as they advance their strategic vision through to 2030 and beyond.”

Recognised as the International Organisation of Sport for People with a Disability (IOSD) by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), Virtus plays a central role in overseeing athlete eligibility, elite competitions, and sport development across multiple disciplines worldwide. Looking ahead to 2030, Virtus is committed to strengthening inclusion in sport and expanding elite pathways to ensure that more athletes with intellectual impairments can compete on the world stage.

This collaboration represents a significant step forward for both organisations, combining Virtus’ global leadership in inclusive sport with GameDay’s proven expertise in membership and competition technology.

Talking about this vital partnership, John Pearce, Sport and Competition Manager at Virtus, said,

“This partnership marks an important milestone for Virtus. Consolidating our global membership and competition management into a single platform will significantly improve the way we support athletes and manage our international sports. GameDay provides the scalable and innovative technology we need as we continue to grow and enhance opportunities for athletes with an intellectual impairment around the world.”

 Together, the partnership will help strengthen pathways, enhance operational capability, and support the continued growth of elite sport for athletes with an intellectual impairment worldwide.

About GameDay

GameDay, part of the Stack Sports family, have been providing next-generation sports management technology solutions in the Australian market since 2001 and has extended their key markets to include the United Kingdom, Europe and New Zealand. GameDay provides a range of solutions, including membership management, competition and tournament management, event/ticketing platforms and various digital websites, e-commerce, and online auction fundraising solutions. GameDay works with a wide variety of organisations, including grassroots sporting clubs/associations, professional clubs/teams, national governing bodies, event providers, along with charities and foundations.

More information on GameDay’s customers and the GameDay product suite can be found by visiting www.mygameday.app.

About Stack Sports

With nearly 50 million users in 35 countries, Stack Sports is a global technology leader in SaaS platform offerings for the sports industry.

The company provides world-class software and services to support national governing bodies, youth sports associations, leagues, clubs, parents, coaches and athletes. Some of the largest and most prominent sports organisations, including the U.S. Soccer Federation, Little League Baseball and Softball, and Pop Warner Little Scholars, rely on Stack Sports technology to run and manage their organizations.

Stack Sports is headquartered in Dallas and is leading the industry one team at a time focusing on four key pillars — Grassroots Engagement, Participation Growth, Recruiting Pathways and Elite Player Development. To learn more about how Stack Sports is transforming the sports experience, please visit www.stacksports.com

The 2025 Virtus World Cross Country Championship in Arenzano, Liguria, Italy delivered a spectacular showcase of resilience, precision, and world-class athletic ability. Athletes from across the globe battled challenging terrain and fierce competition, producing some of the most memorable races in recent years.

Men’s II1 Short Race – 3K

Cross-country and Half-Marathon legend Cristiano Pereira (POR) once again proved why he is one of the most unstoppable athletes in Virtus history.

Cristiano is claiming his victory in the short race at Liguria 2025. Photo Credit: ANDDI Portugal

Clocking 9:30.70, Pereira extended his long-standing unbeaten streak in both cross-country and half-marathon events. His victory came with a 2.6-second margin over Spain’s Adrian Parras Alvarez, who secured silver in 9:33.30, demonstrating impressive closing speed. Fellow Spaniard Raul Martinez Garrido earned bronze in 9:38.30, finishing just five seconds behind Parras Alvarez in a fiercely contested podium battle.

Women’s II1 Short Race – 2K

Five-time Paralympic champion Barbara Bieganowska-Zajac (POL) delivered another masterclass performance, winning gold in 7:07.60. Her pace and control over the course set her over 41 seconds ahead of teammate Anna Bodziony, who claimed silver in 7:49.0. Monika Wyrobek completed the Polish podium sweep with a bronze-medal time of 7:54.3, finishing a close five seconds behind Bodziony in an impressive national display of strength.

Men’s II3 Short Race – 3K

Host nation Italy celebrated a commanding victory as Luca Venturelli (ITA) stormed through the course in 9:45.3 to secure gold. Venturelli finished with a 2-minute, 10-second lead over teammate Andrea Mattone, whose time of 11:55.80 earned him silver after a strong, consistent performance. Bulgaria’s Viktor Karadzhov took bronze with 13:34.30, rounding out a demanding race that tested every athlete’s endurance.

Women’s II1 and Men’s II2 competing in 2K race. Photo Credit: FISDIR

Men’s II2 – 2K

Spain dominated the II2 category with a powerful 1–2 finish. Jose Nicholas Castaño Castro (ESP) claimed gold with a superb 9:23.20, finishing 27 seconds ahead of compatriot Mikel Garcia Aguirrezabal, who crossed in 9:50.20 to secure the silver medal. Álvaro Nuñez Pujadas (ESP) completed the Spanish podium sweep, earning bronze in 10:16.80, just 26 seconds behind Garcia Aguirrezabal.

The Arenzano championship highlighted not only individual brilliance but also national depth, particularly from Spain, Poland, Italy, and Portugal. With commanding victories, dramatic margins, and world-class times, the 2025 edition will be remembered as a testament to the ever-rising standard of Virtus competition.

The medal ceremony and long races are scheduled for tomorrow.

For many years, Virtus has engaged directly with athletes at events around the world — listening to their ideas, experiences, and aspirations. Now, we are taking a bold step forward to ensure that athletes remain at the very heart of everything we do.

At the 2025 Virtus General Assembly in Cairo, Egypt, history was made with the official announcement of the Virtus Athletes’ Council — a new body dedicated to strengthening athlete representation and voice within the organisation.

Recognising his exceptional achievements and leadership, the Virtus Governing Board has appointed Virtus Ambassador and IPC Athletes’ Council member, Lenine Cunha of Portugal, as the Chair of the Virtus Athletes’ Council.

Lenine is widely known for his remarkable sporting career and lifelong advocacy for athletes with an intellectual impairment. Over more than three decades of competition, he has earned an extraordinary 261 international medals across Virtus and Paralympic events — a testament to his talent, perseverance, and passion for inclusive sport.

The newly elected Virtus Athletes’ Council Chair, Lenine Cunha, gave a Keynote Speech and announced the launch of the council.

“It is with great pride that I stand here today — not only as a Paralympic athlete, but as someone who truly believes in the transformative power of sport. Over the past years — and especially this last one —I’ve had the privilege of serving on the International Paralympic Athletes’ Council. It has been an intense, inspiring, and deeply meaningful experience. I want to take this moment to express my sincere gratitude to Virtus for selecting me to join the International Paralympic Athletes’ Council. It is an honour to represent and contribute to the development of Paralympic sport at a global level.”

Lenine Cunha launching the Virtus Athlete Council in Cairo. Photo Credit: Lenine Cunha

He dedicated his achievement of being elected to the IPC’s Council to the Virtus family and urged them to ‘fight for greater inclusion, opportunities, and recognition for athletes around the world.’

“I have learned that Paralympic sport is about much more than competition. It is about giving a voice to those who are too often unheard. It is about opening doors where there used to be walls.”

“And for me, that mission has a very special face: The face of athletes with intellectual disabilities.”

He spoke passionately about advocating for athletes with intellectual disabilities, sharing:

“This past year, I have worked every single day to ensure that these athletes are seen, respected, and included fairly. I’ve worked to make sure their talent and dedication are recognised — not just every four years — but every day: on the tracks, in the fields, in the pools, and in the decisions that shape the future of the Paralympic Movement.”

Acknowledging the challenges, he noted that while progress can be slow, every moment when an athlete feels truly heard reinforces that the movement is on the right path.

“Being part of the Council taught me that true inclusion is not just a beautiful word — it’s constant action. It’s fighting to make sure that everyone has equal opportunities, regardless of the type of disability. And it’s reminding the world that sport, above all, is a space of dignity, courage, and hope.”

Lenine concluded with a heartfelt message to his fellow athletes:

“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to represent athletes with intellectual disabilities. They are living proof that talent has no limits — that strength is not only measured in results, but in the ability to persist, believe, and inspire. To all Paralympic athletes, especially to athletes with intellectual disabilities, I want to say this — from the bottom of my heart: You are the reason I never stop fighting. Your value is infinite. And the future — your future — is bright.

“A Paralympic athlete, advocate and sometimes a coach from Portugal”.

Every competition is more than a fight for results; it’s a celebration of strength, perseverance, and the true spirit of Paralympic sport”.

Lenine was joined remotely by the other members of the new Virtus Athletes’ Council:

1. Haleigh Bates (II3) from the United States of America.
2. Dimitrios Arapoglou (II1) from Greece.
3. Madeleine McTernan (II1) from Australia.

The Virtus Council Members will serve on the council for 4 years and may serve up to two consecutive terms. However, in this first council, members will serve until Global Games 2027.

Through the council, athletes will now be able to share their ideas, help shape Virtus’ strategic plans, and make sure Virtus stays focused on athletes.

Virtus is delighted to have this new direct access to the voices of athletes and looks forward to hearing and taking forward their contributions.