Osman Aşkın Bak: “Türkiye is a volleyball country”

Türkiye’s women’s national volleyball team came back from two sets down to beat Italy 3-2 in the 2026 CEV European Championship final. For Youth and Sports Minister Osman Aşkın Bak, the comeback offered a fitting expression of the team’s character.

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Twice we fell behind, but we knew how to win. For us Turks, ‘It’s not over until we say it’s over.’

“Twice we fell behind, but we knew how to win. For us Turks, ‘It’s not over until we say it’s over,’” Bak said after the final. He praised the players for producing a remarkable fight and changing the course of the match before controlling the deciding set.

Bak also celebrated the crowd, saying 17,000 spectators had created a record atmosphere. He said the CEV president had told him, “We have never seen an atmosphere like this.” Bak credited the Turkish Volleyball Federation and investments in sports facilities in Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir, and said President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had called to congratulate the players.

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We have never seen an atmosphere like this.

The minister singled out several players, including tournament Most Valuable Player Vargas, middle blocker Zehra, setter Elif Şahin and captain Eda Erdem, along with Hande Baladın and the rest of the squad. He also praised the head coach for his experience and rapport with the team.

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Türkiye is a volleyball country.

“Türkiye is a volleyball country,” Bak said, pointing to the national team’s European title, the men’s team’s promotion to a higher league and successes by youth and school teams. “We are happy. We made our nation, 86 million people, happy.”

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We are happy. We made our nation, 86 million people, happy.