Turkish female boxer wins European Championship
|AA Photo


Turkish boxer Elif Güneri returned with a gold medal from this year's European Championship, after not being able to attend the championship in 2014 because of a broken leg.

The 28-year-old gold medalist competed in the women's 81 kg weight class and defeated her Hungarian opponent Petra Szatmari with a final score of 3-0.

The European Women's Boxing Championship was held this year between November 14 and 25 in Bulgaria's capital, Sofia.

Elif Güneri couldn't attend the 2014 championships even though she had worked long and hard for this opportunity, as she fractured her right leg just two days before the tournament.

"I was devastated. But this accident made me more driven for future championships", Güneri said.

She also stated that her interest in boxing comes from her childhood days and that being involved in sports has been a turning point in her life.

The female boxer had a colectomy in 2003 and was even partly paralyzed on her left leg. She recovered in a short time, thankfully with no deformations thanks to having a muscular body as a sportswoman.

Güneri stated that her father was her biggest supporter and that she felt very proud to have won the championship.

"This victory is not just mine; it is the victory of our country. I want to dedicate this championship to all of our martyrs and their families", she said.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan congratulated Elif Güneri after the tournament.