Former Chilean table tennis player Blanca Durán, who competed at two editions of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) World University Games, has been appointed sports director of the University of Chile.
Her appointment makes Durán one of the few female sports directors in the country.
Speaking about the COVID-19 pandemic, she said that going forward it was necessary to "move towards in-person activities, both physical activity and competition, within the possibilities that the pandemic allows us".
Durán was the youngest adult national champion of table tennis at just 15 years old, before representing her country at the 2015 and 2017 editions of the FISU Summer Universiade in Gwangju and Taipei.
"I am excited that it {the appointment} is in a year of transition because it allows us to rethink many of the things we do," said Durán.
"Challenges motivate me, and uncertainty doesn't scare me much.
"My ideal vision is for sport to be considered a tool for human, professional and student development.
"We must move from a more competitive vision towards a human development perspective."
The University of Chile was founded in 1842 and is regarded as the oldest and the most prestigious in the country.
