Erdogan greets Turkish athletes following their victory in earning silver medals
Turkey's Athletes Shine at International Tournaments
Turkey's sports teams made a significant impact at recent international tournaments, with both the men's and women's national teams securing silver medals.
The women's volleyball team, affectionately known as the "Sultans of the Net," claimed their first-ever silver medal at the Volleyball World Championship in Bangkok, Thailand. Despite falling to Italy, the team showcased their resilience and skill throughout the tournament. Following their success, the team met with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who praised their performance.
Meanwhile, the men's national basketball team won the silver medal at EuroBasket 2025 in Riga, Latvia. President Erdogan expressed his admiration for their performance, particularly as it marked the first basketball final excitement for Turkey in 24 years.
In a separate development, Head Coach Ergin Ataman of the women's volleyball team expressed his disappointment at not winning the trophy but expressed confidence in the team's ability to win medals at future tournaments. Ataman's confidence seems well-placed, as he was recently named the top coach for the EuroBasket 2025 tournament.
The women's volleyball team's opposite spiker, Melissa Vargas, was also recognised for her outstanding performance, being selected as the tournament's best opposite spiker. Alperen Sengun from the men's basketball team was selected to the All-Star 5 of EuroBasket 2025, while Isaac Bonga received the Best Defensive Player Award.
In other news, the Turkish Basketball Federation President, Hidayet Turkoglu, expressed disappointment at not winning the gold medal in EuroBasket 2025. Youth and Sports Minister Osman Askin Bak praised the team's unity and their success in going five for five in group matches.
Looking ahead, the Turkish Volleyball Federation President, Mehmet Akif Ustundag, revealed that Turkey will host the European Championship next year. President Erdogan encouraged the teams to remain optimistic about future competitions, specifically the 2027 World Basketball Championship in Qatar.
As for the future of the basketball teams, Shane Larkin retired from Turkey's national team after EuroBasket 2025. Eda Erdem Dundar, a member of the women's volleyball team, presented Erdogan with a personalized jersey bearing his name and the number 53, along with her own signed jersey.
In a heartfelt moment, Erdogan told the volleyball players that their stance is very important against the increasing threats to youth's mental and physical health. This underscores the importance of sports in fostering a healthy and resilient society.
With these impressive performances, Turkey's athletes have certainly made the nation proud and set high expectations for future competitions.
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