Turkish Cypriot athlete Buse Savaşkan, who made our country proud by raising up to the women’s high jump final at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, visited the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Near East Enterprises, Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel. The visit, which was accompanied by TRNC Athletics Federation President Ferhat Sakallı, also included Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hakan Atamtürk, Head of the Department of Health, Culture and Sports at Near East University. Following the visit, Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel presented a plaque to national athlete Buse Savaşkan for her achievements and gave the message that “we are always with you”. Buse Savaşkan said that her new goal after the Olympics is the European Championship.
Prof. Dr. Günsel emphasizes support: “We are always with you with all our resources.”
Making a statement during the visit, Near East Enterprises Board of Trustees Chairman Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel said, “Buse’s success will encourage and inspire many of our young people. We have followed you and your successes with great pride and happiness. We will continue to do so.”
Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel said, “We are proud of every success achieved on behalf of our Turkey. Buse’s success, in addition to the pride we feel on behalf of our Turkey, has also made us proud as Turkish Cypriots.” Stating that “Sports is an area that requires discipline, you have shown that we can achieve a lot with determination.” Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel also said, “As Near East University, we have been contributing to the country’s sports for years and we will always do our best to continue this support. We are always ready to stand by Buse, who has made our country very proud.”
New Goal: European Championship
TRNC Athletics Federation President Ferhat Sakallı, who accompanied Buse Savaşkan on the visit, shared his experiences at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and said, “There were our citizens crying their eyes out, just witnessing her success that made us proud.” Reminding that he worked as a coach at the Near East University Faculty of Sports Sciences for 11 years, Sakallı said, “We have been maintaining our love of sports for years and we will continue to carry this passion with new goals.” Stating that the country’s athletes have made many important achievements in Turkey, Sakallı said, “Our athletes train with great devotion in the difficult conditions of our country. We have no doubt that many more of our young people will make great achievements, especially in individual sports, on this path opened by Buse.” Emphasizing that their next goal is Europe, Sakallı said, “We aim to be successful in this championship, which is as challenging as the Olympics.”
Who is Buse Savaşkan?
Born in Cyprus in 1999 and known internationally for her success in the high jump, Turkish Cypriot national athlete Buse Savaşkan first stepped into her international career by competing in the European Junior Athletics Championships in Tbilisi in 2016. Savaşkan subsequently made remarkable performances in various championships in Turkey and Europe. Winning the Turkish champion titles outdoors in 2020 and indoors in 2021, Savaşkan won the bronze medal at the 2021 Balkan Indoor Championships with a jump of 1.80 meters. Competing in the women’s high jump final at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, the national athlete repeated her personal best with a jump of 1.92 meters. With this success, Savaşkan rose to 20th place in the world rankings and reached the highest ranking of her career.