The Shining Athletes of Haliç at the Top

Aykut Taşgın, a third-year student in the Recreation Department, earned a silver medal in the Poomsae category at a tournament held in Antalya from 8–16 February 2025. He went on to become the European Champion in the Male Individual Over 18 Free Style category at the European Taekwondo Poomsae Championships, held in Estonia on 16–17 April 2025, proudly representing both our country and university.

Our Recreation Department graduate, Recep Men, won the European Championship title in the Kicklight 74 kg category at the WAKO European Kickboxing Championship held in Athens, Greece.

Faculty of Sport Sciences students Mina Nur Ünlü and Oral Metehan Büyük achieved podium finishes at the Turkish Interuniversity Kickboxing Championship hosted by Mersin University. Ünlü secured third place in the K1 52 kg category, while Büyük placed second in the Full Contact 71 kg category.​

Baran Çifci finished second in Turkey in the 71 kg A Division at the national Muay Thai Championships.

Our Men’s Handball Team claimed the championship title at the Turkish Interuniversity Handball Championship, held from 24–29 April 2025, by winning all their matches. Under the leadership of Dr. Mustafa Aslan, a faculty member at the Faculty of Sport Sciences, and coach İlker Şentürk, the team completed the tournament as both Istanbul and Türkiye champions.

Men’s Handball Team Roster:

• Muhammed Mirhan Kasarcı – Sports Management (4th Year)
• Burak Bölükbaşıoğlu – Trainer Education (3rd Year)
• Emir Kırmızıyıldız – Trainer Education (4th Year)
• Sedat Yıldırım – Sports Management (4th Year)
• Doğukan Şirin – Recreation (3rd Year)
• Atakan Şirin – Recreation (3rd Year)
• Gökay Bilim – Sports Management (4th Year)
• Kadir Kalkan – Sports Management (4th Year)
• Eren Soycan – Trainer Education (4th Year)
• Sarp Seymen – Physical Education and Sports Teaching (3rd Year)
• Fatih Çalkamış – Trainer Education (3rd Year)
• Danyel Kaya – Physical Education and Sports Teaching (2nd Year)
• Ahmet Furkan Civan – Recreation (2nd Year)
• Muhammed Yaşar – Trainer Education (4th Year)
• Mehmet Ali Karadurmuş – Trainer Education (4th Year)
• Doğukan Sarısoy – Trainer Education (3rd Year)
• Onur Eren Gedikli – Trainer Education (3rd Year)
• Emre Engin – Trainer Education (4th Year)
• İlkan Keleşoğlu – Sports Management (3rd Year)

Dr. Benil Kıstak Altan, a faculty member of the Faculty of Sport Sciences, set a new Turkish record at the International Masters Long Course Swimming Championship held in Edirne from 7–9 February 2025. She won six gold and two silver medals and earned the right to compete at the “World Aquatics” World Masters Championships to be held in Singapore from 26 July to 22 August 2025.

Elif Bilge Meydan, a first-year student in the Trainer Education Department, competed in the Senior Finswimming Turkish Championship held in Edirne from 2–6 April 2025 and achieved the following results:

• Silver Medals in the 50m Surface and 50m Bi-Fin events
• Gold Medals in the 4x100m Surface, 4x100m Surface/Bi-Fin, and 4x50m Surface relay events​

Sultan Orhan, a third-year student in the Trainer Education Department, secured second place in the 3,000-meter event at the Turkish Interuniversity Indoor Athletics Championship held in Bursa from 24–26 February 2025. He also placed second in the U23 category at the 20th International Istanbul Half Marathon.

Abdullah Tuğluk, a graduate of the Sports Management Department, drew attention with impressive placements in several prestigious races throughout 2024:

• 1st place – Kayseri 10K
• 1st place – “Running Istanbul” Yenikapı Stage
• 1st place – Istanbul Bebek Bosphorus 10K
• 2nd place – Istanbul Sancaktepe Republic Run 10K
• 1st place – Istanbul Gaziosmanpaşa Republic Run
• 1st place – Istanbul Marathon 15K

We congratulate all our student-athletes who have proudly represented our university and wish them continued success.​