Despite Swollen Wrist, Umut Aygün Refuses to Give Up and Becomes European Champion

Umut Aygün of Yapıcıoğlu Başdaş Sports Club reached the final of the Yıldızlar Judo European Cup, held in Brno, Czech Republic, on October 3 to 4. Before the final, Aygün had swelling and pain in the left wrist but did not leave the mat. The national athlete won the gold medal against a Serbian opponent with a point scored 4 seconds before the end of the match. Aygün said the opponent had specifically attacked the left wrist during the final and that the wrist did not matter during the bout.

Aygün started judo as a hobby in primary school, on the advice of a teacher. For five years, Aygün trained with coach Hadra Altuğ in the basement hall of Yapıcıoğlu Primary School. Aygün won three national championships in the children's category in Turkey, took second place at the European level twice, and earned a bronze medal at the Balkan Championships. Training five days a week, Aygün said the goal is to reach world and Olympic results and raise the Turkish flag.

Coach Altuğ stressed that the athletes train in a disadvantaged area and need serious support. Club President Mehmet Sait Başdaş said the club established the judo branch to save young people from substance and media addiction, and that they plan to expand the program throughout Konak and, if necessary, all of İzmir.