Izmir Taekwondo Player Mehmet Efe Özdemir Becomes Balkan Champion at 17

Mehmet Efe Özdemir, a successful taekwondo athlete from Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, became the Balkan Champion at the age of 17.

Mehmet Efe Özdemir, the successful taekwondo player of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Youth and Sports Club, reached the Balkan Championship at the age of 17. Stating that he started sports at the age of 7 to lose weight, and that he switched from karate to taekwondo thanks to his older sister, 17-year-old Mehmet Efe Özdemir said, “I started taekwondo at the sports schools of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Youth and Sports Club. My first trainer in our club was Fethiye Tul. I loved this branch with its fun and cheerful training. Then I met our trainers Çetin Tül and Caner Büke. Thanks to them, I have reached these levels.”

great pride

Stating that he won 2018 national and international medals in his career that has continued since 11, the successful athlete said, “I was very proud at the Balkan Championship held in Albania. It was an honor to see our flag on the air and to sing our National Anthem. Before I went to the championship, all my teachers, my athlete friends and my family supported me. This built a good self-confidence in me. My only goal was the gold medal and I got it. I want to continue this success in the international organization to be held in Bulgaria in March 2023," he said.

My goal is the Olympics

Expressing that he has Olympic goals like every athlete, Mehmet Efe Özdemir said, “Our club supports us in every aspect. I hope to represent our country in the Olympics with their support. But before that, I want to win the best places in all national and international championships. Olympic Champion Servet Tazegül is coaching the National Team. This is a big chance for me. I benefit from his experience and take an example.”

How did he become a champion?

10 athletes from 446 countries participated in the championship held in Durres, Albania. In the 23rd Balkan Taekwondo Championships, Mehmet Efe Özdemir, who competed in the plus 78 kilos weight, defeated Radeljaš Emir from Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-1 in the first round and defeated his Greek rival Petros Bouklas 2-0 in the quarter-finals. Successful athlete Özdemir, who beat Bosnian athlete Tarik Rasak 2-0 in the semi-finals, defeated Romanian rival Laurentiu Snacov 2-0 in the final match and wore the gold medal around his neck.