Turkey’s Vakifbank, a ‘legend’ in women volleyball

Turkey's Vakifbank women volleyball club became the sport’s legend after becoming three-time world champions, the director general of Vakifbank sport club said on Wednesday.

The Turkish club reigned supreme to retain the women’s volleyball title in the last two world championships.

Vakifbank was crowned the champion of the FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship in 2013, 2017 and 2018.

On Sunday, reigning world champion gained the gold medal in the 2018 championship in China.

Top clubs from each continent compete in FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship.

Turkish clubs have triumphed over their opponents six times to gain the world title in the tournament over the last nine years.

Turkey topped this year’s FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship by winning 6 gold, 1 silver, and 3 bronze medals in the tournament.

Vakifbank ranks first in the world championships with 3 gold medals.

After returning to Turkey from China, Vakifbank Director General Mehmet Emin Ozcan told reporters on Wednesday: "As an only club in the world, we won the world cup for three times in women volleyball. With a vision of being Turkey's leader bank, we have 946 branches in 81 cities in Turkey and in addition to representatives in foreign countries.”

"As a bank, we have been active in sports for the last 32 years and we are proud of being successful in women volleyball. Vakifbank women volleyball club became a volleyball legend in the world after winning 3 world championships, 4 European championships and 10 Turkish league champs in last 32 years," he added.

Vakifbank Sport Club President Osman Demren also said: "We are proud to became champions and our main goal is to represent our country in the best way possible."

"We gave high importance to club's youth setup. We have 14 players including 10 national players and 7 of them came from our youth setup. We are working with world's best staff for our youth setup. There is no other way for lasting success," Demren said.

"We thank Chinese volleyball fans who supported us during the championships in China," Demren added.