National team player Selin Oruz of DHB succumbs to financial constraints, unable to participate
In a poignant moment at the Mönchengladbach hockey park, Selin Oruz, the 28-year-old German hockey star, announced the end of her international career. The EuroHockey Championship marked the end of an era for Oruz, who played 177 times for the German women's hockey team, the "Danas."
Despite her impressive performances in the tournament, Oruz expressed disappointment at not winning a gold medal, describing it as a "fairytale and kitsch finish." She explained that her decision was primarily due to financial reasons, as the financial constraints and lack of professional support in women's hockey made continuing at the top level unsustainable for her.
Oruz's retirement announcement was met with sadness and admiration from her teammates and fans. After the final defeat, she was emotional and embraced her teammates for minutes. She later dedicated her time to numerous fans, expressing her gratitude for their support.
The German Sports Aid Foundation provides financial support to the "Danas," but it seems that it is not enough to sustain a career in the marginal sport of hockey, where salaries are already low, and are even lower for women. Kira Horn, a former national player and current enterprise consultant for PWC, has stated that financial considerations are not a question for hockey players and they should plan around it.
However, Oruz is urging everyone to see the bigger picture. She is expressing a need to put her grief aside and focus on the positive aspects of her career, including the fact that she was in her best years (28 years old), which she finds to be the most fun. She believes her team can achieve anything, with many players having played their first tournament and brought great performances.
As Oruz leaves the blue artificial turf of the Mönchengladbach hockey park, she does so with her head held high. She fought fiercely against the Olympic champions from the Netherlands but lost 1:2 in the final. Despite this, her spirit remains undeterred, and she looks forward to the future, whatever it may hold.
[1] Source: Various news outlets reporting on Selin Oruz's retirement announcement.
Selin Oruz's decision to retire from the German women's hockey team, the "Danas," was partly due to financial constraints and lack of professional support in the sport, as not even the German Sports Aid Foundation's support was enough to sustain a career in women's hockey. Despite her disappointment at not winning a gold medal at the EuroHockey Championships, Oruz plans to focus on the positive aspects of her career, such as being in her best years (28 years old) and the potential of her team to achieve great things, with many players having played their first tournament and performing brilliantly.
