In Konya, 8,000 kickboxers are fighting to become national team members

Turkey Open Kickboxing Tournament, where 8,000 athletes participated in Konya, athletes from all over Turkey are competing to become national athletes.

Turkey Open Kickboxing Tournament continues at Karatay Sports and Congress Center. Approximately 8,000 athletes from 81 provinces are competing to become national athletes. After the tournament, which will last until July 9, the athletes who achieve success will represent Turkey at the European Youth Tournament in Hungary at the end of August with the national team.

Salim Kayıcı: ‘There is a great participation in our tournament’

President of the Turkish Kickboxing Federation Salim Kayıcı expressed that the tournament is very important for them, saying, ‘In late August and early September, the European Youth Tournament will be held in Hungary. A national team will be determined there. This championship is very important. There is a huge participation in our tournament. We are proud to have about 8,000 athletes. We have athletes from all over Turkey. There are very competitive matches going on in 8 rings. We are here until July 9. It’s a very nice community, and the competitions are going very well. We hope these matches will end without any accidents or injuries.’

Kayıcı stated that 2024 is a good year for Kickboxing sport, saying, ‘For us, 2024 started very well. Our goal is to be successful in both the world and European championships at the end of this year. Turkish Kickboxing has proven itself in Turkey and around the world. We are the 4th in terms of active licensed athletes worldwide. In the international arena, we are the 1st federation with the medals we have won in all branches.’

Birdal Öztürk: ‘I wish success to our athletes, referees, and clubs’

Director of Konya Youth Services and Sports Birdal Öztürk expressed their happiness for hosting the tournament, saying, ‘We are organizing a very large event in Konya. A large organization where nearly 8,000 athletes compete. Of course, we have all kinds of facilities in Konya in terms of both sports facilities and accommodation. All matches are going well. It makes us very proud that our national team is formed from the athletes who succeed in the organization and represent our country in the competitions. The recent success of our Kickboxing Federation at the national and international levels also makes us proud. I wish success to our athletes, referees, and clubs.’