Gazette ETÜ Had a Chat With Aygün Gençay, a Student of The Political Science Department, Who Is Also The Inter-University Kickboxing Champion

• Hello Aygün. At Gazette ETÜ, We are delighted to have here the champion of many tournaments despite his young age. Can you tell us a bit about your kick-boxing career?

In 2012 I started with taekwondo under the leadership of İlyas Uluyılmaz at Ankara Leopard Sports Club. The same year, in line with my mentor’s recommendations, I started to engage in kick-boxing as well. As early as my 6th month in this sport, I became the Champion of Turkey in youth category, for 94 kg. That same year I was named for the national team, and represented Turkey at the World Championship held in Slovakia. In 2013, I won the National Championship in Adıyaman, and was selected for the national team for a second time. Then, I won the silver medal at the European Championship in Poland. I had to stay out of the national team for a year, due to my injury. I was unable to train for 1 year due to an operation I had in 2015. But thanks to the advanced treatment my physician gave me, I was able to take part in the National Championship of the year. Despite my lack of training, I won the championship for Turkey in 94 kg among the adults, and was selected for the national team A. I represented Turkey at the World Championship held in Ireland.

• How did your transition from taekwondo to kick-boxing took place?

I think taekwondo is harder than kick-boxing. When I became interested in kick-boxing, two distinct branches felt like more then I could chew, given the busy training schedules involved. When you achieve success in a branch, you need to push it more and more. My national championship in kick-boxing was a milestone in that respect. I thought ‘why shouldn’t I do it abroad as well? I can be an international champion.’ For, competing in a championship wearing the national colors is a feeling beyond description. I really wanted to do that.

• Did you proceed as you achieved success, or did the tournaments overseas increase your motivation levels?

I had never been abroad prior to the tournament in 2012. Going abroad with the national team was a joy in and of itself. Going into a camp with the national team, breathing and experiencing that air was a true privilege. Keeping an eye on my mistakes, with a view to improving myself to overcome those mistakes gave me further motivation. After the tournament held in Ireland in 2015, I watched the video of my match. I realized I committed very obvious mistakes. In total disregard of the 2 weeks’ leave granted, I began training the very next day. In a sense, the defeats I suffered made me more determined about kick-boxing.

• It is commendable that you returned from every tournament with some success. Are the tournaments annual events?

There are World Championships and European Championships organized once every 2 years. Furthermore, each year tournaments are held in Turkey. I represented the national team in two world championships and one European championship, and I won the second place in the European championship.

• You work in a busy schedule. You have these championships and career in the national team. Considering all these, what was the single most important factor which affected your success?

I guess the trainer is one of the most important factors playing a role in the athlete’s life. I achieved these successes thanks to my trainer, above all. My trainer supported me, and gave me direction to compete in a weight category to match me. He always wanted the best for me, and gave me wise advice. When he said ‘you should compete in 94 kg’, I agreed without hesitation; I always abided by his recommendations. Thinking back about the days he forced me to continue training, I am glad he did so. That is how I achieved success. Besides him, my family gave me major support. My mother’s prayers were always with me. That is really important for me.

• Will you be having another tournament in the near future?

Previously, National Championships were considered the measure for national team selection process. But according to the new regulations, one needs to win both the International Open Tournament for Turkey, and the National Championship in order to be named for the national team. Thankfully, I won the International Open Tournament for Turkey one and a half months ago. The National Championship is to take place on 5th of July. But currently there is this serious problem in my leg. The physicians have yet to come up with a diagnosis. I need to get an MRI scan followed by a rapid treatment process. As I was unable to get an MRI appointment soon enough, the treatment as well as the training schedule suffers. If I can achieve success in that tournament, I would very much like to be a part of the national team once again.

• You were the champion of the Inter-University Kick-Boxing Championship as well, and represented TOBB ETÜ, bringing in a gold medal. We are really proud with you. What would you like to say about it?

This year, TOBB ETÜ was represented in kick-boxing for the first time, and it won the championship. I too feel the pride for bringing in the championship to TOBB ETÜ in my first year at the school. TOBB ETÜ always stood by me. I would like to thank Assoc. Prof. Oğuz Ergin, the Advisor to the President, not to mention the rest of the university administration, for helping me take part in this tournament by overseeing the process, and for making sure that I continue my education on a full scholarship after the tournament.

• On a related note, the studies at the university forces a busy schedule. Don’t you feel the pressure with the requirements of both the school and kick-boxing? How can you cope?

I can safely say that the preparatory year was really trying. The exams as well as education from early morning to 3 in the afternoon was hard to handle. In those days, I had to prepare for the inter-university championship as well. Naturally my studies were affected. This year, I am enrolled at the actual undergraduate program. It is relatively easier.

• You are a political science student. How will you proceed with your life? Will the sports be on the forefront, or do you plan to have a career related more with your education?

I would not choose Political Science department if I thought the sports career would remain on the forefront. I really love kick-boxing, but I plan to be engaged actively in it only till graduation. Thereafter, I will put it on the backburner. I believe I served my country well in this domain. In the future, I want to serve my country in other domains as well. That is why I chose this department, with some advice on part of my elder brother.

• What is your ultimate goal in kick-boxing?

My goal for this year is world championship. I believe 2017 will be my year. I already have two championships. I want to take part in the national championship to be held on 5th of July, and to be selected to the national team, in order to represent my country in the world championship.

• Are you interested in any other sports?

Football. But at the moment on a spectator-basis only. Before kick-boxing, I played 2 years of football at Gençlerbirliği. As I played in a high school level tournament, the trainers of Gençlerbirliği discovered my talent. That is how I started it. And I continued with it till my transfer to taekwondo.

• Is your life all about sports? Do you do anything else?

I have a busy training schedule. But instead of training 6 days a week, I train only on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. On Tuesdays I usually go out with friends. And every Tuesday I run for 1 hour, regardless of the time of the day. Physical condition is of utmost importance in this sport.

• You obviously have a pretty organized life. I guess the discipline required of a successful athlete had some positive influence on your life.

I live a well-planned life. I don’t spend a minute in vain. One day a week, I specifically set aside time for watching TV series. Even if I am unable to watch it on Wednesday due to my training schedule, I watch Diriliş Ertuğrul on every Thursday. For instance, for the first week of the semester break, I was at the national championship, while in the second week I was in Ankara. I thought it was weird to have some spare time, without the obligation to study for the exams. (laughs)

• Do you have any habits to motivate you before the matches?

There is this prayer I always recite before leaving Ankara. I make sure to recite it. And during the tournament, I always have my morning prayers. Once the tournament is over, I have my gratitude prayers.

• I guess every athlete has an idol. Who is yours?

I am not a huge fan of the word ‘idol’, but there is this person I consider a model for me: Hungarian Zsolt Moradi. Moradi is an athlete who won European-World Championships each year. I like to compare myself physically to him. I try to watch his matches if I can. There is a whole lot of things I can learn from him from a technical perspective.

• What would you do if you were not engaged in kick-boxing? Did you ever think about it?

I would be a failure if not for the sports in my life, and I don’t mean just kick-boxing. I was a lazy student in high school, but I managed to get a well-organized life thanks to sports.

• Can you tell us about a match you are unable to forget, in the tournaments you had participated?

The final match in the European Championship in 2013 was unforgettable. I was beaten. Even though I qualified for the final by overcoming opponents I deemed stronger, I lost to my Hungarian opponent in the final, perhaps a bit due to my excitement. That atmosphere is a really distinct one. Everyone I knew was aware that I reached to the final. Their expectations put a major pressure on me, and I perhaps lost to my excitement.

• Let me ask you a rather personal question. What is the source of inspiration for your name, Aygün?

My actual name is Muhammed. At home, my family sometimes call me Muhammed. But due to the special nature of that name, my family chose not to go with it on an official footing. In order to put any potential shame on that precious name. Aygün, on the other hand, is a homage to Aygün Taşkıran, the midfielder of Fenerbahçe. My dad is a huge fan of Fenerbahçe. That is why he named my elder brother Aykut (as homage to Aykut Kocaman), and me Aygün.

• Do you want to add anything else?

I want to thank my mentor İlyas Uluyılmaz, as well as my trainer Hasan Hüseyin Büyükkoçak, who is also another student of İlyas Uluyılmaz. I can never pay my debt for their efforts.

• I too want to thank you on behalf of Gazette ETÜ, for this most enjoyable interview. I hope we continue to write about your successes.

Interview: Haydar İleli