03 Nov Member Country News: Andorra, India and Thailand
Our member countries are the heart of the WTGF family. Between Games, it is their national events, local teams and grassroots projects that keep transplant sport growing – and give more recipients and living donors the chance to discover what they can do. Here is the latest news shared with us this autumn.
Andorra: VIDA – a living tribute to donors
Shared by ATIDA, the Association of Transplant Recipients and Donors of Andorra.
On Saturday 10 October, ATIDA held its 4th Tribute to Organ, Tissue and Cell Donors in Rotonda Square, Andorra la Vella. Since June, people connected to the association had been caring for boxwood plants at home. On the day, they brought them back and planted them together to form the new VIDA (LIFE) flowerbed – a permanent public space for remembrance, gratitude and awareness. As ATIDA put it, the gesture reflects the very essence of donation: giving so that life can continue.
It was an emotional day for the association, the first tribute held without its president, Toni Gamero, who passed away this year. Vice-president Jaume Boneta paid tribute to his legacy and made a simple appeal: “Talk about donation. Talk about it at home, at work and with friends.”
India: 27 medals in Hong Kong and a cricket cup in Jaipur
Shared by ORGAN India, Parashar Foundation (Sunayana Singh, CEO & Country Representative).
Team India – Amit Sharma, Bhawani Singh, Pankaj Vasvani and Umesh Dhavalikar – brought home an outstanding 27 medals (12 gold, 10 silver and 5 bronze) from the 6th Hong Kong Transplant and Dialysis Games 2026.
Back home, the STAR Champions of Life Cricket Cup 2026 took place in Jaipur on 25 October, bringing together around 70 transplant recipients and living donors from Rajasthan. The event was organised by the Society for Transplant Athletes of Rajasthan (STAR), led by Harshvardhan and Dr. Giriver, with ORGAN India as Knowledge Partner. It was a memorable day of cricket and camaraderie, celebrating athletes leading active, fulfilling lives after an organ transplant.
Congratulations to everyone involved – and thank you to ORGAN India for sharing the news.
Thailand: Noppas Chung shines in Australia
Shared by the Transplant Sport Association of Thailand (TSAT), led by president and team manager Sunhanut “Sunny” Seejumpee.
At the 2026 Australian Transplant Games, Noppas Chung won six gold medals and one silver – and was presented with the Jan and Daryl Wall International Shield. TSAT went on to compete at the 6th Hong Kong Transplant and Dialysis Games in October.
Congratulations to Noppas and the whole TSAT team, and thank you to Sunny for keeping us updated.
Around our community
In the press. Look out for US swimmer Patti Zuppan-Hood, who has competed in several World Transplant Games, in the November issue of U.S. Masters Swimming’s SWIMMER magazine.
Stranger’s Gift. Kevin Jones wrote Stranger’s Gift, a song in tribute to his friend’s kidney donor, and raised around £2,000 for the National Kidney Federation and the Transplant Patients Trust. Kevin wrote the song from the point of view of his friend and former bandmate John Williams, who had a kidney transplant in 2018 and sadly died in 2020, as a thank-you to John’s donor. The song isn’t on streaming services: Kevin shares it with anyone who donates to either charity through their JustGiving pages. Read the full story in The Leader.
In memoriam: Alain Fossard. We were deeply saddened to learn on 12 August of the passing of Alain Fossard of France, inducted into the WTGF Hall of Fame in 2025. Alain was very well known and highly regarded on the cycling circuit. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and the VITA’MOVE community.
Share your country’s news
Do you have results, an event or a story from your country? We would love to feature it. Our next Member Country News call-out covers October to December 2026. Please send us your stories, results and photos by 15 January 2027 using the submission form.