Champion Secures Second Consecutive World Title in Wuxi, China
Türkiye’s taekwondo sensation Merve Dincel Kavurat has once again proven her dominance on the global stage, winning gold in the women’s 53-kilogram category at the World Taekwondo Championships held in Wuxi, China. This marks her second consecutive world championship title, following her 2023 triumph in the 49-kilogram division at the World Championships in Azerbaijan.
The Turkish Taekwondo Federation hailed the achievement as a historic milestone, stating, “Sixteen of our athletes represented our country in the championship, achieving the most successful result in Turkish taekwondo history.”
Impressive Run to the Final
Kavurat entered the tournament with a direct bye into the second round and delivered a stellar performance throughout. She defeated Stavroula Dessyla of Greece, Mobina Nematzadeh of Iran, Po Ya-su of Taiwan, and Jana Khattab of Egypt to advance to the final.
In the championship bout, she showcased her skill and composure by overpowering Dunya Ali Abutaleb of Saudi Arabia 2-0, securing the coveted gold medal and reaffirming her place among the world’s elite taekwondo athletes.
A Champion’s Perspective and Future Goals
Before the tournament, Kavurat had expressed confidence in her team and optimism for another successful campaign. Reflecting on Türkiye’s growing strength in taekwondo, she said, “We have young players, but they trained alongside experienced athletes like Emre Kutalmis Atesli, Nafia Kus, and Hatice Kubra Ilgun. We’re a very good team, and I have high hopes for our younger athletes. God willing, we will keep winning world championships.”
Kavurat also spoke about the impact of her Paris 2024 Olympic Games experience, where she narrowly missed a medal. “Paris 2024 made me grow — both in age and experience. My perspective on taekwondo has completely changed. I still have a chance to become the first Turkish female Olympic champion, and that remains my biggest goal,” she said.
Kavurat’s back-to-back world titles further cement her reputation as one of Türkiye’s brightest sporting stars and an inspiration for aspiring athletes across the nation.
