On 3 January 2018, Al-Monitor published an article written by Zulfikar Dogan in which it was claimed that during the era of Turkey’s ruling AK Party, the nation has “never managed to repeat” the international sport achievements that had been obtained before 2002 - the time when the AK Party came to power - “not only in soccer and basketball but in other disciplines as well.”  

However, Turkey has won many sporting competitions since 2002.

Here are the foremost examples:

• Fenerbahce won EuroLeague championship in 2017.

• Turkey’s Women’s National Volleyball Team came in third at the European championship in 2017.

• A Turkish wrestler won a gold medal at the 2017 European Wrestling Championship.

• Motorcyclist Kenan Sofuoglu won his fifth World Supersport Championship in 2016.

• Turkey’s National Basketball Team won the silver medal at the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

• Turkey’s National Football Team made it to the semi finals of Euro 2008.