Deputy Mayor of Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Büşra Özdemir Expressed Her Support for Elmalı Oil Wrestling in Kaş

Deputy Mayor of Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Büşra Özdemir met with citizens in Kaş.

In his speech here, Özdemir responded to the criticism about kissing the wrestlers on their foreheads in Elmalı Oil Wrestling.

"OIL WRESTLING IS A TURKISH TRADITION"

Deputy Chairman Özdemir said that wrestling, an ancestral sport, is a thousand-year-old tradition and said, "A woman came out to the soldiers' square and claimed it. Until now, I have not preferred to wear a medal and make an appearance in the protocol. We have endless respect for all sports, but what you call oil wrestling is our Turkish tradition. There is no other sport in the world that puts henna on the hands and feet of its athletes, performs ablution and prays, and goes to the soldiers' square."

Stating that wrestling requires great effort and struggle, Özdemir said that wrestlers who make such an effort expect to be appreciated and they deserve it, adding:

"I DO IT WITH RESPECT FOR ATA SPORTS"

"They grew up with material and moral poverty from a very young age. If someone lends a hand to them, they will survive. If you applaud their success, they will put up a fight with even more determination and enthusiasm. We saw this because Antalya Metropolitan Municipality has more than 500 wrestlers and 17 chief wrestlers. There is no such club in Türkiye. Because this is the land of nomads, the land of wrestlers. If you are sitting in this seat, you have to protect that tradition. Thank God. "I don't do this as a show, I do it with all my heart. I do it with the respect I have for the ancestral sport. We will go to whatever area we need to serve. We will fulfill the responsibilities that come with this duty."

"IN SUCH SUCCESSES, THOSE MAGIC MEN COME UP AND KISS THEIR FOREHEAD"

Speaking about his support for the wrestlers in Elmalı Oil Wrestling, Özdemir said:

"We had two young wrestlers in front of us that day. One of them, aged 18-19, competed very successfully. 8 people will participate in the Presidential Cup, which will be held for the first time in Türkiye, in the chief wrestler category. He qualified for that tournament for the first time among the chief wrestlers who have been wrestling for 10 years. This is a great success. His name is Yusuf İslam Taş. The other one is Can Ergen. It is a wrestling league that lasts throughout the year. He is a wrestler who has finished 8 stages undefeated. That brother of ours was a wrestler.

He experienced very serious difficulties and troubles. Our young people and our athletes have written their names in golden letters in a great history of wrestling. He brought the undefeated championship. In such successes, those brave men come out and kiss their foreheads. They also kiss the hand of their master and president. "They can neither break my determination to work, nor hinder my support for this sport, nor can they hurt my heart that much."