Zehra Özbey Torun
Turkish para-archer who competed at the 2016 Paralympics.
Zehra Özbey Torun, born on 7 September 1982, is a Turkish para-archer who competes in the women’s recurve bow standing category. She took part in the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro. Her sporting background includes wheelchair basketball, which she played at the national level, and she also began her athletic career in wheelchair dance sport. After getting married and becoming pregnant, she paused her sports activities. Nine months after giving birth, she returned to competition, switching to wheelchair archery to allow more time with her child. She trained briefly under Vedat Erbay at the Vedat Erbay SK before joining the Turkish women’s national wheelchair archery team. At the 2016 European Qualifier in Saint-Jean-de-Monts, France, she secured a quota spot for the Rio Paralympics. In international competition, she placed seventh in the individual recurve open at the 2016 Paralympics. At the World Championships, she earned a silver medal in the team recurve open in 2019 in ’s-Hertogenbosch, and finished ninth in the individual recurve open in both 2017 (Beijing) and 2019. At the European Championships in Plzen in 2018, she placed sixth in the individual recurve open. She lives in Antalya, Turkey, where she moved after marrying, works in state service, and has a child.
Quick Facts
- Hometown
- Antalya, Turkey
- Birth Date
- 7 September 1982
- Sport
- Paralympic archery
- Event
- Recurve bow
- Club
- Vedat Erbay SK
- Coach
- Vedat Erbay
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Zehra Özbey Torun began her sports career with Wheelchair DanceSport before switching to wheelchair basketball, playing for the national team. After marriage, she took a break due to pregnancy, and nine months after giving birth she returned to sports. Seeking more free time for her baby, she switched to wheelchair archery. After brief training under Vedat Erbay at the Vedat Erbay SK, she was admitted to the Turkey women's national wheelchair archery team. She earned a quota spot for the 2016 Paralympics at the European Qualifier in Saint-Jean-de-Monts, France.
Reader's Guide
Zehra Özbey Torun's career illustrates a transition from wheelchair basketball to para-archery, motivated by family responsibilities. Her performance at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro placed her 7th in the individual recurve open event. At the 2019 World Championships in 's-Hertogenbosch, she achieved a silver medal in the team recurve open, marking her highest international finish. She also competed at the 2017 World Championships in Beijing and the 2018 European Championships in Plzen. Her sporting path reflects a shift from team sports to an individual discipline, balancing elite competition with family life and state service in Antalya.
Did You Know?
- She was a former wheelchair basketball player before switching to archery.
- She took a break from sports due to pregnancy and returned nine months after giving birth.
- She lives in Antalya, Turkey, and works in state service.
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