75-year-old Mehmet Kasapoğlu, who has left 50 years behind in his table tennis career, continues to introduce children to sports by working shoulder to shoulder with the coaches he trained in İskenderun district of Hatay.
Kasapoğlu, who started coaching at the District Directorate of Youth and Sports, did not give up on table tennis, which he met 50 years ago, despite his advancing age. Throughout his career, Kasapoğlu trained athletes with many coaches, including Özlem Davran, and contributed to the spread of table tennis in the city.
Kasapoğlu, who continues to work as a table tennis coach in İskenderun Municipality and a private school, shares his experience with the children he teaches. Kasapoğlu, who teaches side by side with his colleagues Davran and Ahmet Açıkalın, who are his former students, in the courses held in the hall of the District Directorate of Youth and Sports, ensures the discovery of new talents.
“TABLE TENNIS IS A SPORT PLAYED FROM 7 TO 70”
Veteran table tennis player Mehmet Kasapoğlu said that many of his students won medals in tournaments and started coaching.
Stating that he is devoted to table tennis, Kasapoğlu said, “Table tennis is a sport that can be played from 7 to 70. You can also do this sport at later ages when there is a suitable environment.” he said.
Stating that he is happy to work with the coaches he trained, Kasapoğlu said:
“It is a great honor to have my former students train with me. They are no different than my children. We are like a family together. As long as God gives me health, as long as I survive, I will support my students and will always be with them. My students, whom I train as coaches, train their athletes with the same morality and upbringing.”
“HOUSE MEHMET DISCOVERED ME WHEN I WAS 8 YEARS OLD”
37-year-old Özlem Davran, one of the coaches trained by Kasapoğlu, said that she has been working at the İskenderun Youth and Sports District Directorate for 15 years.
Stating that he is doing what he loves, Davran said, “My teacher Mehmet discovered me when I was 8 years old. I have not been able to quit table tennis since that day. Currently, we are trying to offer the best opportunities to the athletes we train as much as we can.” he said.
27-YEAR-OLD AHMET AÇIKALIN ALSO RECORDED THE FOLLOWING:
“We are currently three coaches in the gym. It is a great feeling to work with my coaches. I feel great pride. We have trained very good athletes. It makes me proud to train great athletes where I grew up.”