TVF President Üstündağ evaluated the current situation and future goals of Turkish volleyball in his special statements to Demirören News Agency (DHA).
Stating that Turkish volleyball has experienced firsts so far and will continue to experience firsts, for this reason he is very happy and proud, Üstündağ said about his re-election as the president of the federation and his new position in FIVB, “Again in the 3rd term general assembly, our community gave us a vote of confidence again and 3 We are the president of the Turkish Volleyball Federation for the third time. Of course, we did not stop there. We have come to a very important duty on behalf of our country, I don’t mean personally, but on behalf of the world. “We have become the head of the FIVB Volleyball Council and we will have representatives from 16 countries in Europe and around the world, which is a first for our country.”
Continuing his statement by saying, “As I said at the beginning, volleyball, which brings firsts to life, also wants to keep alive the firsts that have not been experienced,” Üstündağ explained these firsts as follows:
“We have a World Championship ahead of us. We want to be on the podium. For women, we are talking about a community that has guaranteed Los Angeles 4 years from now. Men’s chance is 51 percent, women’s chance is 99 percent. We want to represent it with two teams.”
‘WE SHOULD BE A SPORTS COUNTRY’
Emphasizing that the successes achieved in volleyball are their duty, Üstündağ said, “We are a sports country. As a country, as a state, as a nation, we are a great nation and state. Therefore, I think ‘We should be a sports country’. Hopefully, we will experience what volleyball has experienced and brought to life in every branch.” “And we will keep it alive,” he said.
‘EVERY SIDE OF VOLLEYBALL IS STRONG, WE HAVE NO WEAK PART’
Commenting on the current situation of Turkish volleyball, Üstündağ said, “I think we need to ask this to the entire public,” and continued his words as follows:
“Every aspect of volleyball is strong. We have no weakness. Today, we are making history in the infrastructure. In other words, we are competing in the A league. We are always among the top 3 in Europe or in the world with its men and women. We are always on the podium. Finally, last year in the U20 We became the undefeated European champions. At least 3-4 players from that U20 team will be in the National Team at the beginning of the season. Now your infrastructure is solid, your school is solid. You have projects, we focus especially on the East and Southeast. The projects there are solid. We have started to introduce volleyball to everyone between the ages of 6 and 12. I think we have only one shortcoming, and that is an Olympic medal. “Actually, we should have gotten that medal this year, in this Olympics. Hopefully, we will return with a medal when we go to Los Angeles, which we have already guaranteed.”
‘THINGS MEN HAVE DONE IN LAST YEARS; HISTORICAL SUCCESS’
President Üstündağ stated that the fact that the National Women’s Volleyball Team has come to the forefront in Turkish volleyball in recent years, especially as a result of international successes, has actually overshadowed the historical successes achieved by men, and said, “The success that men have achieved in recent years is also a historical success. For example, what is its history?” We were never in the Nations League, we were in the Nations League this year, we have never played in our Olympic qualification history, we have been undefeated champions in the European Gold League for two years in a row. “When we look at it, these are the first ones. But women’s bar is so high that men’s bar is behind that high bar,” he said.
‘WE SHOULD TAKE CARE OF OUR DESERVING VALUES’
Üstündağ also said that real achievements in the field of sports should be talked about, and achievements that deserve to be talked about should be supported more. Üstündağ said:
“Now, there is no achievement in the world that we have not achieved, there is no achievement in Europe and the Olympics that we have not achieved, but how much of it is talked about, where are we? But we look at the other side, issues that should not be talked about at all occupy our country and our agenda. We must protect our values here, too, we deserve them.” I think we should go out.”
‘EVERY BRANCH IS THE CROWN OF OUR HEADS’
Evaluating the statements of the players of the National Women’s Basketball Team regarding the achievements of the National Women’s Volleyball Team, saying ‘We are proud of them’, TVF President Mehmet Akif Üstündağ said, “I am also proud of the entire sports community. Volleyball is doing a job to be proud of. While we are proud, we are The fact that they see us as valuable and honor us gives us a special motivation. I thank you very much and I hope that volleyball will be one step ahead of its success. “We have no distinction between branches. We should be a sports country in Turkish sports. We are equal in every branch. For us, everyone will be on the side of the one who achieves the highest success and everyone will be a partner in that success,” he said. .
Üstündağ concluded his words by saying, “Good days are ahead for volleyball and Turkish sports, let’s continue watching. With greater support, let’s achieve greater success together.”