TOA Awards 2026 Finalists - Sports & Athletic
The **Sports & Athletic** category recognizes exceptional athletes, coaches, and sports leaders whose achievements have elevated Turkish excellence on the international stage. These finalists have demonstrated outstanding performance, leadership, and dedication while inspiring future generations through athletic success, coaching excellence, and contributions to the global sports community.
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## Alperen Şengün
**NBA All-Star | Houston Rockets**
Alperen Şengün has rapidly established himself as one of the NBA's brightest young stars. Selected in the first round of the 2021 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets, he has earned international recognition for his elite post play, exceptional court vision, and basketball IQ. In 2025, he achieved a major career milestone by being selected to his first NBA All-Star Game, becoming one of the most successful Turkish players in NBA history and an inspiration to young athletes worldwide.
**Profile:** [https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4871144/alperen-sengun](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4871144/alperen-sengun)
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## İpek İrem Ülkü
**Master Fencing Coach | Brown University**
İpek İrem Ülkü is one of the most accomplished Turkish fencing coaches working in the United States. She became the first Turkish coach to earn the title of **Master Coach** from the United States Fencing Coaches Association and later joined the coaching staff of Brown University's NCAA Division I fencing program. In addition to her coaching achievements, she actively contributes to sports science research and athlete development, helping advance fencing education and performance at the highest levels.
**Profile:** [https://brownbears.com/sports/fencing/coaches](https://brownbears.com/sports/fencing/coaches)
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## Tarık Egeli
**Assistant Coach & Head of Analysis, Beşiktaş JK**
Tarık Egeli is a Turkish-American football coach and performance analyst recognized for his expertise in match analysis, tactical planning, and set-piece strategy. As Assistant Coach and Head of Analysis for Beşiktaş JK, he has played an important role in the club's recent competitive success through innovative, data-driven coaching methods. Beyond his professional career, he actively supports youth football development within the Turkish American community by organizing training programs and mentoring young athletes across the United States.
**Profile:** [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarık-yiğit-egeli-2ba4561a4/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarık-yiğit-egeli-2ba4561a4/)
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