Competition was due to take place from August 16 to 27 of next year, but has now been moved following a request by the Organising Committee.

The change came just hours after the announcement that the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games would now take place from July 23 to August 8 next year, with the Paralympics scheduled for August 24 to September 9. 

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic forced Tokyo 2020 to be moved, with more than 740,000 people infected worldwide and more than 35,000 deaths. 

Despite the close proximity to the Olympics, keeping the same timing for Chengdu 2021 ensures student athletes face no eligibility challenges.

It also allows National University Student Federations to maintain their operational and financial plans for the competition. 

International University Sports Federation (FISU) President Oleg Matytsin claimed the two events taking place back-to-back would result in a "great summer".

He said: "2021 promises to be a great summer of international multi-sport competition of the very highest level.

"Many Olympians are also World University Games participants, and they now have the opportunity to prepare for two major multi-sport competitions in Asia in the same time-frame.

"By confirming these revised dates today, FISU is happy to contribute a measure of certainty for student athletes and National University Sports Federations, as they continue to deal with the uncertainty and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

"We remain deeply grateful to our friends and colleagues in China for their continued support of university sport as they prepare for what promises to be an exceptional World University Games."

More than 10,000 athletes are expected to be competing at Chengdu 2021 across 18 sport disciplines, including rowing, shooting and wushu.  

It is the second time the event has changed dates, with the original schedule August 8 to 19.