Hitit is supporting young national table tennis players Ela Su Yönter and Defne Üzümcü through travel sponsorship for their international tournament journeys, contributing to their development on the road to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
2 April 2026, İstanbul – Hitit, a global provider of airline and travel technology solutions, continues to deliver projects that create social impact in line with its sustainable growth vision. In collaboration with the Turkish Table Tennis Federation, the company will provide travel sponsorship to national athletes Ela Su Yönter and Defne Üzümcü throughout 2026 as they compete in international tournaments.
Under the agreement, the two young athletes will participate in national and international competitions with Hitit’s support. This initiative aims to strengthen their journey toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games by enabling them to gain international experience and collect ranking points.
During this period in which table tennis has become one of the rising sports in Türkiye, supporting young athletes who stand out for their performance is gaining even greater importance. Competing in the U11 category, Defne Üzümcü, and in the U13 category, Ela Su Yönter, are among the promising young national players gaining recognition through their international performances.
Launched in 2018, Hitit’s long-term corporate social responsibility initiative “Rackets Up” supports equal access to sports while contributing to the nationwide development of table tennis in Türkiye. The project focuses on introducing children, especially those with limited access to table tennis and identifying talented athletes at an early stage through structured training programs.
Previously providing similar support to national women’s players Ece Haraç and Özge Yılmaz, Hitit continues to strengthen the presence of young athletes on the international stage and contribute to the development of table tennis in Türkiye.
Commenting on the initiative, Hitit CEO Nevra Onursal Karaağaç said: “At Hitit, we prioritize creating sustainable impact not only in technology but also through social responsibility. Following the journey we began with “Rackets Up”, supporting our young national athletes in their international journey is of great value to us. After contributing to the success of Ece Haraç and Özge Yılmaz, we are delighted to now support Ela Su and Defne. We attach great importance to the representation of our female athletes in sports and remain committed to contributing to the ‘Reducing Inequalities’ goal of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. We strongly believe that Ela Su and Defne will achieve remarkable success on their journey toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.”
President of the Turkish Table Tennis Federation, Kerim Koç, also commented: “Greater participation of young athletes in international tournaments plays a critical role in their Olympic journey. The support provided by Hitit will significantly contribute to their development, while also supporting the growth of table tennis in our country.”
Through this collaboration, Hitit and the Turkish Table Tennis Federation aim to expand the reach of table tennis in Türkiye and support the international success journeys of young athletes. The achievements of Ela Su Yönter and Defne Üzümcü in upcoming tournaments are expected to inspire future generations.