Emre Sönmez/Yasmene Bektas Lead a Young Generation At World Championships

Emre Sonmez and Yasmene Bektas from Turkiye pulled off a Herculean task by dismissing crowd favourites Ashith Surya and Amrutha Pramuthesh. The game, which dragged on for over an hour, saw the Turks register their first win at the BWF World Championships 2026. Incidentally, it is also their first win at the major tournament.

“This was the first time for us at the World Championships. And it is very exciting. Also, the match was very hard, but the best one yet,” the Turkish pair said in an exclusive conversation with myKhel post their match at the BWF World Championships.

But their journey in badminton is even more fascinating. Motoring in the shadow of football, the most popular sport in Turkiye, the racquet came almost naturally to both the shuttlers. “I was seven years old when I started playing; my dad is also a badminton coach, which helped me a lot,” Sonmez said on the humble beginnings in badminton.

Like Emre Sonmez, Yasmene Bektas was also introduced to badminton at a very young age. Her journey into the sport began at the age of 10, largely influenced by her father, who was friends with badminton coaches and encouraged her to take up the sport.

Growing Popularity Of Badminton In Turkiye

Although badminton is still in its nascent stages in the country, the sport is steadily gaining popularity. This has been reflected at the ongoing BWF World Championships as well, which is going on in New Delhi currently. Across the disciplines, 4 Turkish players took part in the competition: Neslihan Arın, Özge Bayrak, Emre Sönmez & Yasemen Bektas.

All four shuttlers were on top of their game. Neslihan and Bayrak deserve special credit as they pushed seasoned shuttlers like Okuhara and Rachanok Intanon and did not look like to relinquish any point for free.

Speaking about the growth of badminton in Turkiye, Sonmez said, “Our government supports us. Our federation also supports us in every age category. They prepare us for such big tournaments.” Sonmez also said that the Turkish badminton federation has brought in foreign coaches to train them and hone their skills. The pair will next face the Indonesian pairing of Amri Syahnawi and Nita Violina Marwah.

Turkish badminton may still be developing, but the performances in New Delhi underline its growing potential. With strong federation support, international coaching, and emerging talent, players like Sönmez and Bektas are gaining valuable experience on the biggest stage. Their journey could mark the beginning of a brighter future for Turkish badminton.