Hakan Akkaya targets gold at Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics

Turkish wheelchair fencer Hakan Akkaya, who secured the nation's first-ever Paralympic medal in his discipline at the Paris 2024 Games, has announced his sights are set on winning gold at the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics.

Akkaya, who has competed in wheelchair fencing for 15 years and earned over 40 international medals, recently added a bronze in foil and a silver in épée from the European Championships in Cardiff to his collection. He expressed confidence that achieving gold in Los Angeles is a realistic goal based on his current progression.

Beyond personal accolades, Akkaya aims to establish a lasting system to support future generations of para-athletes. He credited his entry into the sport to the encouragement of coach Şaban Sözer in Bursa and noted that watching Nazmiye Muslu win gold in weightlifting at the 2012 London Paralympics served as the primary inspiration for his athletic career.