Yasin Muhittin Can, who won the gold medal in the 57 kg category at the FISU World University Muaythai Championship held in Brazil, said:

“The most important thing for us was to represent our country in the best possible way. I believe we achieved that.”

Yasin Muhittin Can, a national athlete and student at Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU), has set his sights on raising the Turkish flag once again after winning the gold medal in the 57 kg category at the FISU World University Muaythai Championship in Brazil.

Representing Türkiye at the championship, held in Brasília between 8 and 13 June, Can delivered an outstanding performance to claim the top spot on the podium.

A third-year student in the Sports Management Department of OMU’s Yaşar Doğu Faculty of Sport Sciences, Can competed in the highly competitive 57 kg division, which featured nine athletes. On his way to the title, he defeated opponents from Hungary, Saudi Arabia, and Ukraine to secure the gold medal.

“Representing Türkiye Was Our Greatest Goal”

Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), the 22-year-old athlete explained that he began practicing Muay Thai at the age of 12 and has since competed in numerous national and international tournaments.

Having earned medals at World, European, and Turkish championships, Can noted that success requires consistent effort and discipline.

“Our training sessions are very demanding. My coach, Mehmet Ali Uslu, prepares annual and monthly training plans. We follow both short-term and long-term programs. We often train at high altitudes and complete intensive running sessions there.”

Emphasizing that success does not come easily, Can added:

“The most important factors are trust in your coach and belief in the process. After that, success comes through self-confidence, determination, and hard work.”

Reflecting on the championship in Brazil, where he competed in one of the largest and most competitive divisions, Can described the tournament as both challenging and rewarding.

“It was a great but difficult competition for me. I suffered some injuries and took some hard hits, but I never gave up. Even though my coach was not physically there, he always supported and believed in me. To raise our flag at a championship featuring athletes from around 35 countries is an indescribable feeling. Our greatest goal was to represent Türkiye in the best possible way, and I believe we succeeded.”

New Goal: Raising the Turkish Flag Again

Can stated that his next objective is to continue winning international titles and once again see the Turkish flag raised at major championships.

He also expressed his gratitude to OMU Rector Prof. Dr. Fatma Aydın, OMU Director of Health, Culture and Sports Selman Aslan, and their teams for the support they provided throughout the championship.

Coach Uslu: “Champions Are Built Through Sacrifice”

Can’s coach, Mehmet Ali Uslu, said that they have trained many athletes who have gone on to compete successfully at national and international levels.

Highlighting his athlete’s dedication, Uslu stated:

“Yasin devoted himself completely to this championship. He truly believed he would become world champion. Training, training, and more training... He sacrificed time with friends, leisure activities, and many personal comforts. That is what championship success requires. An athlete cannot reach the top without making sacrifices.”

Uslu emphasized that none of Can’s opponents in Brazil were easy competitors and praised his athlete’s determination and technical ability.

“At the World Championship in Brazil, every athlete fought extremely well. But Yasin fought harder and applied superior techniques to achieve victory. He will now have a short recovery period because his body has been heavily tested by competition. We have a Turkish Championship ahead of us, and after that he will continue representing our country in international events and raising our flag with pride. We have no doubt that he will give his very best.”