Young Turk Aims at Senior Success

No more than three weeks have passed since Sude Yaren Uzuncavdar won gold at the Sofia 2022 World Taekwondo Junior Championships, but the young Turk already has her sights set on her next goal.

Uzuncavdar won the title in the W+68kg in Sofia, overcoming Korea’s Su-gee Jung in the final.

Such was the quality of her performances in the Bulgarian capital that she left Sofia not only as a champion, but also as the women’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the competition.

“Being chosen as the best among the best is a wonderful feeling - it is an important place in my career that I will never forget!” she said. “I am very happy and proud. I can't find words to describe my feelings.”

Intense pre-contest prep paid off.

“I went through tough times before the tournament, but at that moment when I became the World Champion and ran with the flag, I felt that all the difficulties experienced were worth it,” she said. “I will work harder to experience that feeling again.”