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Adnan Yahsi is preparing a women’s athletics team for the athletics Super League after the squad earned promotion this season.
Yahsi founded the club in memory of his son, who died in a traffic accident in 2022.
Yahsi and his wife, Arzu Yahsi, both physical education teachers at schools in Gaziemir, a district in the south of Izmir, a city on Türkiye’s Aegean coast, set up men’s and women’s athletics and triathlon teams in memory of their son Ata Yahsi, a national triathlete.
The teams consist of students and volunteers and have competed in many races organized by the Turkish Athletics Federation this season.
The women’s team finished second in the Inter-Club Athletics First League Competitions in August and moved up to the Super League. The men’s team finished fourth in the First League. Coach Yahsi trains both squads.
Yahsi, president of Ata Yahsi Sports Club, said the club operates mainly in athletics and triathlon. He said Izmir has had no teams in the leagues for many years, so the club gathered athletes who couldn't join other teams and prepared them to compete.
“The teams competing in the Super League have large budgets, and all of them belong to corporations or municipalities,” Yahsi said. “But we will do our best with those who believe in us and support us. We will represent Izmir in the best way in the Super League.”
Yahsi said the club aims to keep the women’s team in the Super League and to bring the men’s team up to the top division.
Ozlem Ozgun, a physical education teacher and member of the women’s team, said the squad is the only team from Izmir in the Super League. She said the athletes train every day.
Nilay Altas, 19, who has been involved in athletics for six years, said the team lacks professional status, high salaries, and equipment but has another strength.
“We are not a professional team, and we do not receive high salaries or have equipment. But we have one very important feature: we can be a family,” Altas said. “When needed, we can support each other both mentally and during the race.”
Altas said she has wanted to join the national team since childhood.
Teammates Tuana Celtik and Zeynep Yagmur Akboncuk said they will give their best in the league.
On the men’s team, sprinter Egehan Elibol said he wants to become a national athlete. Mert Derin, who has trained in athletics for three years, said his goal is to help promote the team to the Super League.
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