Turkish women have an active participation in many sports branches and have won several important trophies, especially in athletics, weightlifting, combat sports, volleyball and basketball.
Pioneers Berna Gözbaşı, first Turkish woman to chair a top-flight men's football club. Lale Orta (born 1960), first Turkish female football referee with FIFA badge, and first woman to chair the Central Arbitration Committee of the Turkish Football Federation. Derya Açıkgçz (born 1977), first Turkish weightlifter to win a medal at the world championships. Begüm Kübra Tokyay (born 1993), first Turkish female head official of American football. Berna Yurtsever, first Turkish female boxing referee with AIBA 3-star badge. Emine Dursun (born 2001), first Tırkidh female darts plsyer to compete internationally.
Participation in Olympics Pioneers The first Turkish women to take part in the Olympic Games were Halet Çambel and Suat Fetgeri Aşani who participated in the fencing competitions of the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin.
Medals OlympicsNameEventRank1992Hülya ŞenyurtJudo 48 kg 2000Hamide BıçkınTaekwondo 57 kg2004Nurcan TaylanWeightlifting 48 kg2008Azize TanrıkuluTaekwondo 57 kg2012Nur TatarTaekwondo 67 kg2016Nur TatarTaekwondo 67 kg2020Busenaz SürmeneliBoxing welterweightBuse Naz ÇakıroğluBoxing flyweightHatice Kübra İlgünTaekwondo 57 kgYasemin AdarWrestling freestyle 76 kgMerve ÇobanKarate 61 kg
Archery
Yasemin Ecem Anagöz (born 1998), European (2018) and Mediterranean Games (2022) and Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion Ezgi Başaran (born 2003), Mediterranean Games (2022) champion Yeşim Bostan (born 1995), Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion Gülnaz Büşranur Coşkun (born 1999), European (2018, 2022) and Mediterranean Games (2022) and Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion Aslı Er, Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion Ayşe Bera Süzer (born 1996), Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion Gizem Özkan (born 2002), Mediterranean Ganes (2026) in team, champion Necla Şahin, Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion Dünya Yenihayat (born 2009), Mediterranean Games (2026) in tea, champion Sevim Yıldır, Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion
Arm wrestling Esma Nur Çakmak (born 2004) Esra Kiraz (born 1992), World (2009, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022), European (2011, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2022) champion Gülendam Sarıbal (born 1972) Şükriye Yılmaz (born 2001)
Athletics
National record-holders World Athletics Championship YearNameEventRank2003Süreyya Ayhan1500 m.2009Karin Melis MeyLong jump
European Athletics Championship YearNameEventRank2002Süreyya Ayhan1500 m.2006Elvan Abeylegesse5000 m.2010Elvan Abeylegesse5000 m.Elvan Abeylegesse10000 m.Nevin Yanıt100 m. hurdles2012Gülcan Mıngır3000 m. steeplechase2023Tuğba Danışmaztriple jump Indoor
Athletics in Mediterranean Games
YearNameEventRank1987Serap Aksu400 m. hurdles 1991Aysel TaşJavelin1997Serap AktaşMarathonLale ÖztürkMarathon2001Nora Güner100 m. Nora Güner200 m.Süreyya Ayhan1500 m.Ebru Kavaklıoğlu1500 m.Ebru Kavaklıoğlu5000 m.Elvan Abeylegesse10000 m.Mehtap SızmazMarathonSerap AktaşMarathonAnzhela AtroshchenkoHeptathlon2005Binnaz Uslu800 m.Anzhela AtroshchenkoHeptathlonTurkish team4 × 400 m.2009Nevin Yanıt100 m. hurdlesElvan Abeylegesse10000 m.Burcu Ayhanhigh jumpKarin Melis Meylong jump
Şevval Ayaz, Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion Buse Arkazan, pole vault, Islamic Solidarity Games champion (2021) Özlem Becerek (born 2002), discus throw, Islamic Solidarity Games champion (2021) Yasemin Can (born 1996), European (2016), European Cross Country (2016, 20117, 2018, 2019), Mediterranean Games (2022) and Islamic Solidarity Games champion (2021) Emel Dereli (1996), shot put, Islamic Solidarity Games champion (2021) Ekaterina Guliyev (born 1991), Mediterranean Games (2022) and Islamic Solidarity Games champion (2021) Sıla Koloğlu (born 2004), sprint, Mediterranean Games (2026), Balkan İndoor Championshps (2024) champion Simay zçiftçi (born 2003), sprint, Mediterranean Games (2026) champion Demet Parlak pole vault, Islamic Solidarity Games champion (2021) Esra Türkmen javelin throw , Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion
Badminton Yasemen Bektaş (born 2003), Mediterranean Games (2026) champion in mixed doubles Bengisu Erçetin (born 2001), Mediterranean Games champion in doubles (2022) Neslihan Yiğit (born 1994), Islamic Solidarity Games (2013) and Mediterranean Games champion (2013, 2018, 2022)
Basketball
The Turkey women's national basketball team, also known as "Periler" (The Fairies) by the Turkish fans, is No 13 in FIBA World Rankings.
European Women Basketball Championship YearCityRank2011Łódź, Poland2013Orchies, France
Mediterranean Games YearCityRank1987Latakia, Syria2005Almeria, Spain Players Nevriye Yılmaz (born 1980), retired national team player Birsel Vardarlı (born 1984), retired national team player Işıl Alben (born 1986), team captain Sevgi Uzun, (born 1996) WNBA player
Referees Özlem Yalman (born 1977), FIBA-listed referee since 2011. Funda Teoman (born 1984), referee
Billiards
Three-cushion Gülşen Degener (born 1968), European Women’s Cup (2003, 2004) champion Güzin Müjde Karakaşlı (born 1991), European Championships silver medalist (2023)
Bocce Rukiye Varol, Islamic Solidatity Games (2021) champion Bahar Çil Mediterranean Geams champion (2022) Buket Öztürk (born 2001), World (2018), European (2024), Mediterranean Games (2022) champion İnci Ece Öztürk (born 1997), World (2023), European (2024), Mediterranean Games (2018, 2022), Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion Mine Türker (born 2006), European (2024) champion
Boxing
Hatice Akbaş (born 2002), world (2022), European (2026), Mediterranean Games (2022) champion Ayşe Çağırır (born 1995), world (2022) champion Buse Naz Çakıroğlu (born 1996), world (2022) and European (2019, 2022, 2024) champion Nurcan Çarkçı, European (2003)champion Şennur Demir, (born 1982) world (2022) and European Union (2017) champion Hasibe Erkoç, world (2006) and European (2001, 2006) champion Elif Güneri (born 1987), European (2016, 2019) and European Union (2017) champion Nurhayat Hiçyakmazer (born 1983), world (2010) and European (2010) champion Sümeyra Kaya, European (2007), European Union (2006, 2008) champion Havvanur Kethüda (born 2007), European (2026) champion Nagehan Malkoç (born 1985), European Union (2007) champion Busenaz Sürmeneli (born 1998), Olympics (2020), world (2019, 2022, 2025), European (2024, 2026), European Games (2023), Mediterranean Games (2022) champion Hülya Şahin (born 1974), world (1996, 1998, 2001) and European (2001, 2003) champion Sabriye Şengül (born 1988) Ayşe Taş (born 1987), European Union (2010, 2011) champion Gülsüm Tatar (born 1985), world(2008, 2010), European Union (2006, 2007, 2008, 2010) and European (2004, 2009, 2011) champion Selma Yağcı (born 1981), European Union (2007, 2008) champion Şemsi Yaralı (born 1982), world (2008), European Union (2008) and European (2011) champion Serpil Yassıkaya, European Union (2010) champion
Cycling Esra Kürkçü, Balkan champion Semra Yetiş, Balkan champion
Darts Zehra Gemi (born 2009), world (2025 girls') champion
Fencing Épée Lal Erman, Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion Aleyna Ertürk, Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) Gökçe Günaç, Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion Damlanur Sönmüş, Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion
Foil
Suat Aşani (born 22 September 1916, date of death unknown) Halet Çambel (1916–2014), 1936 Olympian Almila Birçe Durukan, Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) Aleyna Ertürk (born 2005), Islamic Solidarity Games (2021, 2025) champion Özden Ezinler (born 1950) Firuze Ayşen Güneş, Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion Alisa İşbir, Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion İrem Karamete (born 1993), Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion
Sabre Nisanur Erbil (born 2003), Olympian fencer (2024) Iryna Shchukla Çiçek (born 1995), Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion
Football
Women's football in Turkey began with the establishment of the all-women's club Dostlukspor in Istanbul in the early 1970s. Turkey women's national football team was established in 1995.
Notable footballers Merve Aladağ (born 1993) Sevgi Çınar (born 1994) Bilgin Defterli (born 1980) Sibel Duman (born 1990) Eylül Elgalp (born 1991) Esra Erol (born 1985) Melahat Eryurt (born 1975) Leyla Güngör (born 1993) Başak İçinözbebek (born 1994) Lale Orta (born 1960) Hatice Bahar Özgüvenç (born 1984) Zeliha Şimşek (born 1981) Ebru Topçu (born 1996) Yağmur Uraz (born 1990) Cansu Yağ (born 1990) Aylin Yaren (born 1989)
Managers
Özlem Araç (born 1989) Cemile Timur (born 1988)
Referees Necla Akdoğan (born 1971) Drahşan Arda (born 1945), world's first female referee Leman Bozacıoğlu İpek Emiroğlu (born 1992) Elif Köroğlu Mürvet Yavuztürk (born 1985)
FIFA listed refereesː
Freediving Derya Can Göçen (born 1979), world record holder Yasemin Dalkılıç (born 1979), world record holder Şahika Ercümen (born 1985), world record holder Birgül Erken (born 1972) Fatma Uruk (born 1988), world champion and world record holder
Gymnastics Aerobic gymnastics Ayşe Begüm Onbaşı (born 2001), World (2021), Mediterranean Games (2021) and Islamic solidarity Games (2021) Championships
Artistic gymnastics Sevgi Seda Kayışoğlu, Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion Bilge Tarhan (born 2004), Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion Göksu Üçtaş (1990), Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion Bengisu Yıldız, Isşamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion Tutya Yılmaz (born 1999), gold medalist
Rhythmic gymnastics
Duygu Doğan (born 2000), European gold medalist in the 3 Hook + 4 clubs event Hatice Gokce Emir (born2008) Mediterranean Games (2026) champion
Handball (white) at the 2015 World Women's Handball Championship European qualification match]]
The Turkish Women's Handball League was established in 1978.
In the Mediterranean Games YearCityRank2009 Mediterranean GamesPescara, Italy
Tuana Akman, Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion Elif Sıla Ayfın (born 1996), Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion Neslihan Çalışkan, Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion Ceren Demirçelen, Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion Meryem Erdoğan, Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion Emine Gökdemir, Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion Nurceren Akgün Göktepe, Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion Atiye Gülseven, Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion Halime İslamoğlu, Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion Beyza Karaçam, Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion Merve Özbolluk (born 1994), Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion Bile Nur Öztürk, Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion Kübra Sarıkaya, Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion Ayşenur Sormaz, Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion Yasemin Şahin (born 1988), Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion Gülcan Tügel, Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion Betül Yılmaz (born 1988), Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion
Ice hockey Turkish national women's ice hockey team was established in 2006.
Ice skating Naz Arıcı (born 1982), adult figure skater
Judo Tuğçe Beder, Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion Hasret Bozkurt (born 2001), Islamic Solidarity Games (2025) champion Tuana Gülenay (born 2007), Mediterranean Games (20260 Champion Belkıs Zehra Kaya (born 1984), Mediterranean Games champion (2005) Kayra Sayit (born 1988), European (2016, 2021), Mediterranean Games (2018, 2022) and Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion Neşe Şensoy (born 1974), Mediterranean Games champion (2001) Nurcan Yılmaz, Islamic Solidarity Games (2021) champion
Karate
Dilara Bozan (born 1997), Islamic Solidarity Gamrs (2017, 2021), European (2015, 2024) champion Eda Eltemur (born 1999), European champion Serap Özçelik (born 1988), European champion Tuba Yakan (born 1991), Islamic Solidarity Gamrs (2021) champion