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Alptekin Canözkan, Turkish hope for the future

02/19/2021

Published by frits bakker

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Alptekin Canözkan from Turkey: I really can't imagine a week without billiards

The young European talents in three cushion and players from other parts of the world have been held back in their development by this year of COVID-19 crisis. The last World Junior Championship in Valencia 2019 ended with super-talent Myung-Woo Cho in his last year as the winner and three Koreans on stage. The next World Championship event in the Netherlands was postponed and almost certainly not played.

Was it a year of standstill and stagnation, of desperately waiting for the new start? How do young players deal with the crisis in this important part of their career? Kozoom went in search and starts a series of interviews from now with young billiard players: about the crisis, the future of their careers, the current conditions in their home countries and life without championships, tournaments and competitions. Today part 5: Alptekin Canözkan (19) from Turkey.

Alptekin Canözkan: billiards a part of my life
Name: Alptekin Canözkan.
Age: 19
Residence: Kayseri, Turkey
Profession/study: Faculty of Civil Engineering at Abdullah Gül University
Hobby: Swimming, fitness
Relationship: Single
Billiard Club: None

1. Kozoom/Frits Bakker: How are you coping with this long period of time in which the COVID crisis is dominating the world?
Alptekin Canözkan: Although we are a bit limited in our social and sports life, health comes first. The only thing we can do is to overcome this situation as efficiently as possible. I also try to keep my physical and mental motivation high. And I hope that we, like the whole world, will soon get rid of the pandemic and resume our normal lives. Because we really missed the tournaments, matches and the excitement.

2. Is this a time of standstill and stagnation in your young career, where rapid development and progression are so important?
Alptekin Canözkan: That depends on everyone personally. Instead of seeing this as a stop, I prefer to use this process to my advantage as much as possible. However, the lockdowns have inevitably caused some stagnation in our lives. For myself, I mainly focussed on my individual training. I watch videos of seasoned top players. I try to improve my game by learning new systems. That was the only thing I could do during this period to keep up my motivation.

3. How is the current situation in your hometown and in your country in relation to COVID-19?
Alptekin Canözkan: The pandemic process is handled very well in our country. Although there is an increase in the number of cases from time to time, but it has been kept under control with planned restrictions. I live in Kayseri and the situation here shows that the rules are generally followed.

4. How are the opportunities for you to train? How much can you practice every day or week?
Alptekin Canözkan: This is a good opportunity for me to find a suitable billiard club where I can do my training. As a billiard player, I'm glad to see that the sportsmen in the club where I train abide well by the rules. I have to adapt my training to my teaching rhythm, but I try to train no less than 15 hours in a week. I really can't imagine a week when I haven't played billiards.

5. What does life look like for you without championships, tournaments and competitions?
Alptekin Canözkan: I really miss the tournament excitement and that blissful stress. Championships and tournaments give experience to young athletes like me. Competition always takes us further. I hope it starts again as soon as possible.

6. What does your country or federation do to develop careers of young talents?
Alptekin Canözkan: It's gratifying to see that the sport of billiards in our country can attract a wider audience day by day. The efforts of our federation and our chairman make us look to the future with great hope. Our federation is very good in communication and cooperation with young people. The training camps that we regularly hold are very efficient. We will soon be starting another camp period and I am looking forward to it.

7. How do you see your future as a sportsman and possibly as a professional billiard player?
Alptekin Canözkan: I aspire to play billiards professionally, not as a hobby, but as a part of my life. I have no doubt that in the future, alongside my educational life, billiards will have an important place in my life. My biggest dream is to see myself at the podium in a world championship. With that motivation, I am sure of my zeal and of myself.
Thank you for the interview. I wish the whole Kozoom family success in their work.

Thanks Emel Kokcelik Coklu for the translation

Alptekin Canözcan at the last World Championship

The Turkish junior champion: Alptekin Canözkan

At the European championships in 2019 in Brandenburg

 

 

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