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Hande Baladın: Volleyball player who loves Formula One, Football, and Basketball
By Khaled Al-Omeri, Jordan News
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AMMAN — One of the most prominent female volleyball players,
Hande Baladın, has assisted her team Eczacıbaşı VitrA in winning several
titles. She is also set to represent her country in the Olympic Games 2024,
which will take place in Paris.اضافة اعلان
Baladın told Jordan News that her interest in sports when she was young but it began with gymnastics and swimming. Her interest in volleyball started when she “used to play volleyball with my brothers and cousins at school or in the park in front of our house,” she said.
Her passion for volleyball quickly grew, leading her to pursue it further, and with her family's support, she started playing volleyball in Izmir. Currently, she has been playing continuously for 13 years, going into the 14.
Baladın chose volleyball because she “always enjoyed ball sports”.
(Photo: Redbull)
“I used to play volleyball all the time when I was a kid. But, I was more interested in watching the volleyball games back then. Especially because it's a team sport, sharing the same goal as a lot of people, helping out, and making friends was important to me,” she said.
What distinguishes this sport from others to Baladın is: “We have to play by being connected all the time. It may be a little ironic, but we're fighting in the field, so the anti-gravity ball doesn't fall off the ground. We also have a chance to make up for mistakes from our teammates. Everyone in the field has a job to do, even if it’s just for a point.”
(Photo: Redbull)
In terms of accomplishments, Baladın made history by participating in the Tokyo Olympic Games with the Turkish national team. She added that her pre-game rituals included listening to music.
What she enjoys in volleyball is the team spirit. “After each point, whether you win or lose, you can gather around and embrace each other and focus on the next point with confidence and motivation thanks to the power of hugging,” she said
In terms of challenges, Baladın said: "We function at a more intense pace than any other sport. The pace continues uninterrupted, with the national team starting immediately after the conclusion of the club season. There are times when we face mental and physical difficulties. Our social life is so small, we don't have much time to spend with our family. But the achievements, our love for this sport, our dreams, and our goals help us to overcome these challenges.”
(Photo: Redbull)
The player follows a special training program that consists of two days of double training, one day of a single workout, and three fitness practices a week. “These programs can change according to the intensity of the games,” she added.
Beyond volleyball, Baladın enjoys basketball, football, and Formula One car racing.
Baladın hopes to reach the 2024 Paris Olympics to “be an example of new generations with my character on and off the field,” she said, adding that she is also excited to represent her national team.
Read more Sports
Baladın told Jordan News that her interest in sports when she was young but it began with gymnastics and swimming. Her interest in volleyball started when she “used to play volleyball with my brothers and cousins at school or in the park in front of our house,” she said.
Her passion for volleyball quickly grew, leading her to pursue it further, and with her family's support, she started playing volleyball in Izmir. Currently, she has been playing continuously for 13 years, going into the 14.
Baladın chose volleyball because she “always enjoyed ball sports”.
(Photo: Redbull)
“I used to play volleyball all the time when I was a kid. But, I was more interested in watching the volleyball games back then. Especially because it's a team sport, sharing the same goal as a lot of people, helping out, and making friends was important to me,” she said.
What distinguishes this sport from others to Baladın is: “We have to play by being connected all the time. It may be a little ironic, but we're fighting in the field, so the anti-gravity ball doesn't fall off the ground. We also have a chance to make up for mistakes from our teammates. Everyone in the field has a job to do, even if it’s just for a point.”
(Photo: Redbull)
In terms of accomplishments, Baladın made history by participating in the Tokyo Olympic Games with the Turkish national team. She added that her pre-game rituals included listening to music.
What she enjoys in volleyball is the team spirit. “After each point, whether you win or lose, you can gather around and embrace each other and focus on the next point with confidence and motivation thanks to the power of hugging,” she said
In terms of challenges, Baladın said: "We function at a more intense pace than any other sport. The pace continues uninterrupted, with the national team starting immediately after the conclusion of the club season. There are times when we face mental and physical difficulties. Our social life is so small, we don't have much time to spend with our family. But the achievements, our love for this sport, our dreams, and our goals help us to overcome these challenges.”
(Photo: Redbull)
The player follows a special training program that consists of two days of double training, one day of a single workout, and three fitness practices a week. “These programs can change according to the intensity of the games,” she added.
Beyond volleyball, Baladın enjoys basketball, football, and Formula One car racing.
Baladın hopes to reach the 2024 Paris Olympics to “be an example of new generations with my character on and off the field,” she said, adding that she is also excited to represent her national team.
Read more Sports
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