A punch to the world summit by Meryem Naz Ayas

At the WAKO World Kickboxing Cup, organized at the Antalya Sports Hall and included in the official calendar of the World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO), Istanbul Medipol University student Meryem Naz Ayas secured second place in the world, marking another important milestone in her sporting career.

Competing in the prestigious tournament, which brought together approximately 2,400 athletes from 43 countries, Ayas, a student in the Department of Gastronomy and Culinary Arts within the School of Fine Arts, Design and Architecture, advanced to the final of the Senior Women’s 65-kilogram Low Kick category. In the championship bout, she was narrowly defeated 2–1 by fellow national athlete Sude Özer, concluding the tournament as the world runner-up.
 

Ayas’s achievement represents not only a personal success but also a significant indicator of the continued rise of Turkish kickboxing on the international stage. Drawing attention throughout the competition with her determined and competitive performances, the young athlete earned her place on the podium and brought pride to Türkiye.

“REPRESENTING MY COUNTRY IS A GREAT HONOUR”
Sharing her thoughts with the Press and Publications Office following the championship, Meryem Naz Ayas emphasized the value of competing on the world stage and offered the following remarks:

“It was an immense honour for me to represent my country at such a prestigious international event. Every time I stepped into the ring, I did my utmost to represent both my country and my university in the best possible manner. Achieving the title of world runner-up is an invaluable source of motivation for me. Standing on the podium and representing our flag on the international stage is a feeling that is difficult to put into words. As I have done before, I will continue training without interruption in order to become a world champion once again and bring the gold medal to my country. I would like to thank my family, my club, my coaches, and my university for their support throughout this journey.”
 

NATIONAL ATHLETE CONTINUES TO DEMONSTRATE REMARKABLE CONSISTENCY
Ayas has attracted considerable attention in recent years through her achievements in both national and international competitions. In 2024, she won the gold medal and became World Junior Champion in the 56-kilogram Low Kick category at the World Junior Kickboxing Championships held in Budapest, Hungary.

In addition, Ayas claimed WAKO World Cup titles in 2022, 2023, and 2025, while also securing seven Turkish national championships throughout her career. The national athlete, who also won a silver medal at the 2025 Inter-University Turkish Kickboxing Championship and contributed to Istanbul Medipol University’s team success, has continued her impressive consistency on the international stage by reaching the world podium in the senior category following her world championship triumph at the junior level.