ANKARA - Turkish figurehead Ersan Ercan, the president of all billiard players in his country, has been elected for the third time just over a month ago. He has made his dream, realization of the new Turkish billiard facility, on which he has been working on for a long time, come true. The multifunctional billiard centre was inaugurated last week. Sports Minister Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoğlu attended the opening of the International Tournament Complex and Federation Service Building.
Kozoom reporter Emel Çoklu had a short interview with Ersan Ercan, the federation president, about the new term presidency, the new billiard complex and the medals won by Turkish billiards players these weeks.
Kozoom/Emel Çoklu: First of all, congratulations on your new presidency and on the opening of the billiard facility. What is your reaction and comment?
Ersan Ercan: Thank you. I have been elected for the third time and we have crowned this new era with our new facility. I hope both will have a positive impact on our billiard community.
Kozoom/EÇ: It is a huge success that with hard work and preparation the new facility has been achieved.
Ersan Ercan: We have the most modern billiard facility in the world and now have a wonderful home. This facility is both a venue where we will hold national and international tournaments and the service building of our federation. It is a complex that we have built on an area of 2500 square meters, with all the comforts for the athletes in mind. The design took into account every detail, from the sports hall to the foyer, from the cafeteria to the changing rooms and to the press room. The first phase has been successfully completed and of course we have also seen things that need to be improved. We aim to make it even more complete in the new year.
Kozoom/EÇ: How did you experience the first tournament that was held in the centre?
Ersan Ercan: It was enjoyable and exciting. Can Çapak became the first champion in our new facility. In the coming weeks and months, there will be women's, youth and veteran competitions, followed by the 2nd and 3rd stages of the Turkish pool championship. In December, we will have finished the year with the final stage of the Turkish Three-Cord Championship. I really enjoy meeting our billiard players here and playing tournaments in our own home centre. We get the same feedback from our players.
Kozoom/EÇ: With your new presidency coincide also new successes of our players. What do you think of the medals that our Turkish billiard players have won at the European Championships of pool billiards held in Antalya last week and the World Cup in Veghel last week?
Ersan Ercan: The new term has started well. Four international medals were won in November. Eylul Kibaroğlu won a gold and a bronze medal at the European Pool Championships, Ibrahim Vatansever won 1 bronze and Tayfun Taşdemir won bronze in the World Cup in Veghel. These four important medals in the first international tournaments after the pandemic made us very happy. We have started well and I hope our national pride will continue to enrich us with successes.
Emel Coclu: Thank you very much for taking time for us. We wish you every success in your new term as president.
Mr Ersan Ercan in his new office in the federation center