Three faculties, nearly 400 students from Pécs, five sports, and three days of electrifying atmosphere — that’s the short summary of the 2025 Medical Cup, held this April in Szeged. The University of Pécs was represented by its Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy, and Faculty of Health Sciences at the national competition, where the Pécs team ultimately finished third overall.
The Medical Cup has been held annually since 1972, bringing together more than 500 athletes and over a thousand fans cheering for their university teams. The event is hosted each year by one of Hungary’s four medical universities — Semmelweis University, the University of Debrecen, the University of Szeged, or the University of Pécs.
Over the decades, the event has grown into more than just a tournament — it’s become a tradition that brings together hundreds of athletes, supporters, and organizers. This year, a delegation of over 130 athletes traveled from Pécs to Szeged, accompanied by a 37-
member cheerleading squad and 200 enthusiastic fans. PTE students once again competed in five sports — handball, basketball, football, volleyball, and water polo — across both men’s and women’s categories.
Pécs’s strongest performance came in men’s handball, where the team clinched the gold medal. The basketball and football teams also delivered excellent results — both the men’s and women’s teams in these sports took home silver.
The opening night party on the first day of the cup set the tone for the event, followed by a full day of competitions and cheering from early morning to late evening. The enthusiasm of Pécs supporters has become almost legendary — dressed in bull-headed shirts and armed with chants, flags, and drums, they cheered on their teams with cries of “Go, POTE!”, “Pécs is here”, and “Everyone wants to be from Pécs”.
The three-day sporting festival concluded with the award ceremony and a cheerleading showcase, offering a fitting finale to the event.
According to the final results, PTE finished in third place with 23 points — just one point behind Szeged (24). This year’s winner was Semmelweis University with 32 points, while the University of Debrecen earned 20 points.
“The 2025 Medical Cup wasn’t just about athletic performance — it was rich in human connections, shared experiences, and collective achievements. Once again, Pécs proved to be a top contender not only on the field but in the stands and in community spirit as well” - said Tamás Téczely, chair of the Medical Cup Committee and dean’s delegate.
As he announced, Pécs will take over as host next year, with the University of Pécs organizing the 53rd Medical Cup in 2026. The goal is clear: reclaim the overall title on home turf. That will take every faculty, every student — including pharmacy students, who once again proved that even in smaller numbers, they represent serious strength.
“Standing on the podium is amazing — winning together is even better!” - he added.
Photo gallery:
Aftermovie: