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Türkiye’s national tai chi athlete Liyne Nisa Akgul is setting out to train a new generation after earning two silver medals at the World University Combat Sports Championships in Brazil.
The 21-year-old now aims to build up the sport in Izmir and eventually take on a national team coaching role.
Akgul has pursued tai chi professionally for six years, often carrying out her training in parks and gardens because she could not find a suitable indoor facility.
Despite those limitations, she worked her way up to international competition and secured podium finishes abroad.
At the championship held in Brazil from June 8 to 13, Akgul finished second in two categories.
The result added to a record that includes national titles, three consecutive Balkan championships, and a world bronze medal earned in Singapore in 2024.
Akgul said competitors with Chinese backgrounds often start training at an early age and benefit from more advanced facilities.
She began at 15 but said she refuses to use the lack of a training hall as an excuse, instead focusing on stepping up her performance.
With another international event coming up, Akgul is now looking toward the Balkan Championships in August.
She said the immediate goal is to win gold in the category in which she will compete.
Her ambitions also reach beyond her own medal campaign.
Through a course she has opened in Izmir, Akgul hopes to bring in more athletes and offer opportunities to people interested in taking up tai chi.
Describing coaching as one of her biggest long-term goals, Akgul said: “I want to train athletes in this field.” She also hopes to move up to the position of national team coach while spreading the discipline across Izmir.
Coach Resul Sadeki said Izmir has talented young athletes, although tai chi remains insufficiently known. He explained that Akgul knew little about the discipline when she first started but gradually developed her skills and went on to earn international results.
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