01.12.2025 17:18
At the World Kickboxing Championship for Adults held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, national athlete Elif Ceren Şanlı won a gold medal in the 56-kilogram category and also received the 'Best Female Fighter' award. Şanlı dedicated this achievement to her father, who passed away two months ago.
The national athlete Elif Ceren Şanlı (19), who won a gold medal at the World Kickboxing Championship for Adults held in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, was also awarded the 'Best Fighter' award in the tournament. Şanlı, who dedicated her championship to her father, who passed away two months ago, said, "I had promised my father. I kept that promise. That's why I am proud."
Elif Ceren Şanlı, a national athlete living in İzmir, started kickboxing at the age of 9 with the support of her family. Stating that she has been working day and night for 10 years to represent her country and make her family proud, Şanlı became the world champion in the 'Kickboxing K1' category at 56 kilograms, representing Turkey at the World Kickboxing Championship for Adults in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. In addition to her championship, she was also awarded the 'Best Fighter' award in the tournament. Şanlı, who lost her biggest supporter, her father Ali Şanlı, to a heart attack two months ago, said, "I worked hard to make my mother, my father, and my country proud. I finally succeeded. I dedicate this success to my father. I had promised my father. I kept that promise. That's why I am proud."
'SHE CAME THIS FAR WITH HER DETERMINATION, AMBITION, AND THE SUPPORT OF HER COACHES'
Hatice Tuğba Şanlı (48), stating that her daughter Elif is their greatest source of pride, said, "I cannot express the happiness I feel. The best part was that she dedicated her championship to her father. Her father was always behind her. I only supported her from behind. Elif put in a lot of effort to get this far. She came this far with her determination, ambition, and the support of her coaches."
'WE HAVE BEEN DREAMING OF THIS DAY FOR YEARS'
Kickboxing National Team Coach Berkan Günerli also stated, "We are very proud and happy. We made our National Anthem heard all over the world in Abu Dhabi. We titled it 'How happy is that I am a Turk.' I dedicate this success to our brother Ali. We have been with Elif for 10 years. We have been dreaming of this day for years. Thank God, my Lord has granted us this. May it be a gift to our country, our homeland, and our nation."
'WE WERE CONFIDENT IN ELIF UNTIL THE END'
Kickboxing National Team Coach Erkan Günerli mentioned that they had been preparing for the tournament non-stop for about 4 months, saying, "We had a very good preparation process. We were confident in Elif until the end. She did not disappoint us. She became the world champion. She showed the strength of the Turk to the world."