Turkish Shooter Yusuf Dikç Secures Gold, Again Defies Convention with Equipment-Free Shooting
ISTANBUL – Turkish national team members dominated at a recent shooting competition, culminating in another gold medal win for Yusuf Dikç, who once again distinguished himself by competing without the auxiliary equipment commonly used in the sport. The Turkish Shooting Federation announced the victories held in Istanbul.
In the men’s 10-meter air pistol team final, Dikç and teammate Mustafa İnan defeated the German duo of Christian Reitz and Paul Froehlich to claim the gold. Meanwhile, Damla Köse and Elif Berfin Altun secured gold in the women’s 10-meter air rifle team category, besting their Norwegian rivals. Esra Bozabalı and Şevval İlayda Tarhan topped the podium in the women’s 10-meter air pistol team final, surpassing their french competitors.
dikç’s unique shooting style – eschewing the stabilizing equipment favored by many – recently gained international attention, with videos of his technique shared widely, even reaching Elon Musk. The athlete clarified his approach, stating, “I didn’t do that posture willingly. I was just putting my hand to stop the body more stable and balance when shooting.”
Dikç emphasized the importance of hosting such a significant shooting event in Türkiye for the first time, calling the tournament, which included participants from Hungary and serbia, a valuable “preliminary preparation for the world championship.”
“the European Champions League is a special platform with only the best athletes,” Dikç said, congratulating İnan. “It is a great honor to represent my country at this level.”
Şevval İlayda Tarhan also earned a medal in the 10-meter air pistol category, contributing to Türkiye’s success as the nation looks ahead to the Paris 2024 Olympics.
