11.01.2026 19:40
Asya Kandemir, a 10-year-old tennis player living in Kocaeli, was selected for the U12 National Team due to her outstanding performance against older opponents. Kandemir, who has won all 16 tournaments she participated in without dropping a set, will represent Turkey at the Winter Cup to be held in Estonia.
10-year-old Asya Kandemir, who started her tennis training at the Izmit Tennis Club at the age of 7, quickly gained significant momentum and drew attention with her success on the courts.
WON 16 TOURNAMENTS WITHOUT GIVING A SET
Competing in the 12-year category, which is above her age group, Kandemir lifted the championship trophy in all 16 official tournaments she participated in without giving her opponents a single set. The 10-year-old athlete also earned the right to wear the crescent-star jersey by standing out among older athletes.
'I BECAME A CHAMPION WITHOUT GIVING A SET'
Little tennis player Asya Kandemir and her coach Ali Kolburan made statements to İhlas News Agency (IHA) reporters. Asya Kandemir, who stated that she has won without giving a set since the day she started her tennis career, said, "Since the day I started, I have become a champion in all 16 tournaments I played without giving a set. Even though I am one year younger, I entered the national team as the second. We will go to the Winter Cup in Estonia at the end of this month. If we succeed here, we will go to the finals in England," she said.
'I WANT TO MAKE IT TO THE FINALS'
The 10-year-old athlete expressed that being selected for the national team motivated her even more, saying, "I am excited for the tournaments. I am training by thinking more about how I can play in the national team. I am preparing by thinking that my opponents there will be much better than my opponents here. I want to maintain the same stability there and make it to the finals," she said.
ALI KOLBURAN: 'HER MENTAL STRENGTH IS VERY HIGH'
Her coach Ali Kolburan stated that Asya Kandemir has very high mental strength, saying, "Asya has become a champion without giving a set in any tournament she participated in for the past two years in categories one year older than her. She plays critical points very well and has high mental strength. Her perception also puts her ahead of her peers. Her technical and physical development is progressing as we planned," he said.
WILL REPRESENT TURKEY AT THE WINNER CUP
Asya Kandemir will represent Turkey at the Winter Cup, which will be held in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, on January 29. Turkey will compete in Group C against Italy, Denmark, Belgium, Sweden, Ukraine, Luxembourg, and Estonia. Successful teams will earn the right to participate in the final matches to be held in England in February.