While Doruk Demircan, our athlete from Arkas Çeşme Sailing Youth and Sports Club, has become champion in the Laser Standard Youth category of the Turkish Sailing Federation (TYF) 2021 National Team Qualifying Races held in Urla, he has also come third in the general overall placing of the Laser Standard class. This result has brought Demircan the qualification to the U21 European Championship. On the other hand, our athlete Mert Çakmak will participate in the national team camp in the Optimist category.
In the second week of the TYF 2021 National Team Qualifying Races, the Laser classes experienced breathtaking moments. There were 104 competitors from 34 sports clubs in Laser 4.7 Class, 37 competitors from 17 sports clubs in Laser Radial Class and 8 competitors from 6 sports clubs in Laser Standard Class competing with each other in races, one more exciting than the other. The highest-ranking athletes have been qualified to play for the National Team. Doruk Demircan from Arkas Çeşme Sailing Youth and Sports Club has come first in the Laser Standard Youth category, trailed in second place by Uygar Kızılkaya from Fenerbahçe Doğuş Sailing and by Ege Dündar from İstanbul Sailing Club in the third place. In the General Overall Placing of the Laser Standard Class, Demircan has come third. Thus, Doruk Demircan has been qualified for the U21 European Championship by joining the National Team.
In the award ceremony, the Turkish Sailing Federation President Özlem Akdurak said: “The period we are going through deprives us from several things. Therefore, I would like to congratulate our referees, coaches and athletes for continuing with sports in spite of difficult conditions. On behalf of your friends doing this sports on the surface of the sea, participating in this race and continuing to do sports in their clubs, I would also like to thank their parents and coaches, as well as the management of the sports club, which has provided this opportunity and fought against difficulties. With the initiatives of our esteemed Minister last year, the academic and sports lives of our athletes, who are qualified to wear the national jersey, will be more balanced. Last year, 12 of your friends got the sports scholarship that was started for this purpose. I believe that these opportunities will be important motivation boosters for you to carry on with your sports life.”
Murat Eskici, Provincial Director of İzmir Youth and Sports, pointed out that the athletes at sea were aware of the struggle, that referees and coaches supported each other and that he witnessed the effort they made for the National Team selections to continue smoothly. “I would like to congratulate our athletes who have been selected for the National Team and wish success to our athletes that will participate in the Olympic Games”, said Eskici.
