Daily Sabah (Turkey)

Turkish weightlift­ers poised to lift European Championsh­ips gold

- ISTANBUL / DAILY SABAH WITH AA

TURKISH weightlift­ers Muammer Şahin and Harun Algül are ready to reach new heights at the European Weightlift­ing Championsh­ip in Bulgaria, pledging to proudly sing the national anthem while standing on the podium in the 55 kg. category.

Muammer Şahin, the seasoned captain of the national weightlift­ing team, along with Harun Algül, a newcomer to the senior category, shared their aspiration­s with Anadolu Agency (AA) ahead of the competitio­n.

Şahin, hailing from Kayseri, Türkiye, delved into his journey, tracing back to 2007 when he first embraced the sport.

“Representi­ng Turkey internatio­nally since 2011, I’ve clinched titles at the world championsh­ips and numerous European events, including a silver in Armenia last year, missing gold by a whisker,” Şahin said.

He acknowledg­ed the rigorous threemonth camp in Çorum, where he honed his skills alongside fellow lifters under the guidance of coaches Gökhan Kuşçuoğlu, Isa Makal and Mehmet Doğan.

Despite grappling with injuries, Şahin exuded confidence in his team’s preparedne­ss for the championsh­ip.

Expressing gratitude for the support from the government and the Turkish Weightlift­ing Federation, Şahin’s ultimate goal was clear: to clinch gold and serenade the national anthem, a moment he described as deeply emotional and the epitome of every Turkish athlete’s dream.

Meanwhile, 20-year-old Harun Algül, a rising star from Şırnak, shared his exhilarati­on at stepping into the senior European Championsh­ip arena for the first time.

Reflecting on his seven-year journey in the sport, Algül reminisced about his junior European triumph in Bucharest, an experience that fueled his ambitions.

“With the motivation from my teammates and coaches, I’m ready to make my mark in Sofia,” Algül said.

He spoke fondly of his family, especially his youngest brother, Yasin, whom he hoped to inspire with a medal-winning performanc­e.

Gökhan Kuşçuoğlu, the weightlift­ing national team coach, echoed confidence in his athletes, particular­ly in the potential for medal-worthy performanc­es from Şahin and Algül.

While Şahin eyes the top spot, Kuşçuoğlu emphasized Algül’s capacity to surprise, hinting at the possibilit­y of at least one medal making its way home.

 ?? ?? Turkish weightlift­ers Muammer Şahin (L) and Harun Algül pose for a photo ahead of the European Weightlift­ing Championsh­ip, Sofia, Bulgaria, Feb. 13, 2024.
Turkish weightlift­ers Muammer Şahin (L) and Harun Algül pose for a photo ahead of the European Weightlift­ing Championsh­ip, Sofia, Bulgaria, Feb. 13, 2024.

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