1. Early Life and Background
Nur Tatar Askari was born on August 16, 1992, in Van, Turkey. She holds Turkish nationality and is of Kurdish descent. She stands at 6.0 ft (1.83 m) and competes in the 148 lb (67 kg) category.
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1.1. Childhood and Early Training
Tatar Askari began her taekwondo journey early in life, initially joining the TSE Sports Club in Ankara. She later transferred to Ankara İller Bankası, where she continued her training. Throughout her career, she has been coached by Cüneyt Gülçek. Tatar Askari achieved her first competitive medal at the age of 15. She went on to win the European Junior Taekwondo Championships twice and also secured gold medals in several A-class tournaments across Europe, demonstrating her early promise and talent in the sport.
2. Career Highlights
Nur Tatar Askari's career is marked by a series of significant achievements across various international taekwondo competitions, reflecting her consistent performance and dedication to the sport.
2.1. Olympic Games
Tatar Askari has represented Turkey in two Olympic Games, earning medals in both appearances. At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, she competed in the 67 kg category and won a silver medal, marking her first Olympic success. She qualified for the Olympics again and participated in the 2016 Summer Olympics held in Rio de Janeiro, where she secured a bronze medal, also in the 67 kg division.
2.2. World and European Championships
Tatar Askari has achieved considerable success at both the World and European Championship levels. She became a World Champion in 2017, winning a gold medal in the 67 kg category at the event held in Muju, South Korea. Prior to this, she had earned silver medals at the World Championships in Chelyabinsk, Russia, in 2015, and in Manchester, United Kingdom, in 2019, both in the 67 kg division.
In the European Taekwondo Championships, she also holds multiple medals. She was crowned European Champion in 2012, taking gold in the 67 kg category in Manchester. She secured silver medals at the European Championships in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in 2010, and in Montreux, Switzerland, in 2016. Additionally, she earned bronze medals at the 2014 European Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, and the 2021 European Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria.
2.3. Other International Competitions
Beyond the Olympic, World, and European Championships, Nur Tatar Askari has excelled in various other international tournaments. She won a gold medal at the 2013 Mediterranean Games held in Mersin, Turkey, competing in the 67 kg class. In 2017, she also secured a gold medal at the Islamic Solidarity Games in Baku.
Her performance in the World Taekwondo Grand Prix series includes multiple medals:
- Gold Medals: 2018 Fujairah and 2017 Rabat.
- Silver Medals: 2017 Moscow, 2015 Mexico City, and 2015 Manchester.
- Bronze Medals: 2019 Sofia, 2018 Manchester, 2015 Samsun, and 2014 Manchester.
She also earned a bronze medal at the 2015 European Games in Baku and a silver medal at the 2018 World Taekwondo Grand Slam in Wuxi, China.
2.4. Detailed Tournament Record
The following table provides a comprehensive chronological record of Nur Tatar Askari's results in various taekwondo tournaments:
Year | Event | Location | G-Rank | Place |
---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | Sweden Open | Stockholm, Sweden | G-1 | 3rd |
2021 | European Championships | Sofia, Bulgaria | G-4 | 3rd |
2020 | Fujairah Open | Fujairah, United Arab Emirates | G-1 | 1st |
2019 | World Championships | Manchester, United Kingdom | G-12 | 2nd |
Grand Prix | Sofia, Bulgaria | G-4 | 3rd | |
Extra European Championships | Bari, Italy | G-4 | 3rd | |
Spanish Open | Castellon, Spain | G-1 | 1st | |
2018 | Grand Slam | Wuxi, China | G-12 | 2nd |
European Championships | Kazan, Russia | G-4 | 2nd | |
Grand Prix | Fujairah, United Arab Emirates | G-8 | 1st | |
Grand Prix | Manchester, United Kingdom | G-4 | 3rd | |
Grand Slam - Qualification | Wuxi, China | G-4 | 2nd | |
Spanish Open | Alicante, Spain | G-1 | 1st | |
2017 | World Championships | Muju, South Korea | G-12 | 1st |
Grand Prix | Rabat, Morocco | G-4 | 1st | |
Grand Prix | Moscow, Russia | G-4 | 2nd | |
Turkish Open | Antalya, Turkey | G-1 | 1st | |
Slovenia Open | Hamburg, Germany | G-1 | 1st | |
WT Presidents Cup - Europe | Athen, Greece | G-1 | 3rd | |
2016 | Olympic Games | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | G-20 | 3rd |
European Championships | Montreux, France | G-4 | 2nd | |
European Clubs Championships | Antalya, Turkey | G-1 | 1st | |
Turkish Open | Antalya, Turkey | G-1 | 1st | |
Dutch Open | Eindhoven, Netherlands | G-1 | 1st | |
WT Presidents Cup - Europe | Bonn, Germany | G-1 | 3rd | |
Luxembourg Open | Luxembourg, Luxembourg | G-1 | 3rd | |
2015 | World Championships | Chelyabinsk, Russia | G-12 | 2nd |
Grand Prix | Mexico City, Mexico | G-8 | 2nd | |
Grand Prix | Manchester, United Kingdom | G-4 | 2nd | |
Grand Prix | Samsun, Turkey | G-4 | 3rd | |
European Games | Baku, Azerbaijan | G-4 | 3rd | |
Universiade | Gwangju, South Korea | G-2 | 3rd | |
Croatia Open | Zagreb, Croatia | G-1 | 1st | |
Ukraine Open | Kharkiv, Ukraine | G-1 | 1st | |
Moldova Open | Chișinău, Moldova | G-1 | 2nd | |
Kazakhstan Open | Almaty, Kazakhstan | G-1 | 2nd | |
European Clubs Championships | Antalya, Turkey | G-1 | 3rd | |
Greece Open | Thessaloniki, Greece | G-1 | 3rd | |
2014 | European Championships | Baku, Azerbaijan | G-4 | 3rd |
Grand Prix | Manchester, United Kingdom | G-4 | 3rd | |
Dutch Open | Eindhoven, Netherlands | G-1 | 2nd | |
Trelleborg Open | Trelleborg, Sweden | G-1 | 3rd | |
Ukraine Open | Kharkiv, Ukraine | G-1 | 3rd | |
2013 | Dutch Open | Eindhoven, Netherlands | G-1 | 1st |
Spanish Open | Alicante, Spain | G-1 | 3rd | |
2012 | Olympic Games | London, United Kingdom | G-20 | 2nd |
European Championships | Manchester, United Kingdom | G-4 | 1st | |
Olympic Games qualification Europe | Kazan, Russia | G-4 | 1st | |
German Open | Hamburg, Germany | G-1 | 3rd | |
2011 | German Open | Hamburg, Germany | G-1 | 1st |
Trelleborg Open | Trelleborg, Sweden | G-1 | 3rd | |
2010 | European Championships | Saint Petersburg, Russia | G-4 | 2nd |
European U-21 Championships | Kharkiv, Ukraine | G-4 | 1st | |
Dutch Open | Eindhoven, Netherlands | G-1 | 1st | |
2009 | European U-21 Championships | Vigo, Spain | G-4 | 1st |
European Junior Championships | Trelleborg, Sweden | G-4 | 1st | |
Spanish Open | Alicante, Spain | G-1 | 3rd | |
2008 | Belgian Open | Herentals, Belgium | G-1 | 1st |
2007 | European Junior Championships | Baku, Azerbaijan | G-1 | 3rd |
3. Personal Life
In 2017, Nur Tatar married Mehran Askari, a former member of the Iranian national taekwondo team.
4. Legacy and Reception
Nur Tatar Askari's career has left a significant mark on taekwondo in Turkey and internationally. As a multi-medalist at the Olympic Games, World Championships, and European Championships, she is recognized as one of the most successful Turkish taekwondo practitioners of her generation. Her consistent top-tier performances across various weight divisions and tournaments highlight her versatility and enduring competitiveness in the sport. Her achievements have served as an inspiration for aspiring athletes in Turkey and contributed to the country's prominence in international taekwondo.