Rackets Up, the social responsibility initiative launched by airline and travel technology provider Hitit and sustained continuously since 2018, has won the Felis Award in the “Creating Opportunities for Children and Youth” category. Having introduced table tennis to 180,000 children to date, Rackets Up stands out as one of the most comprehensive social responsibility (CSR) initiatives in the field, with its extensive reach, meaningful social impact and sustainable model.
11 November 2026, Istanbul – Hitit, a global provider of software solutions for the airline and travel technology industry, has received a Felis Award for Rackets Up, its social responsibility initiative carried out in partnership with the Turkish Table Tennis Federation (TMTF). The project won in the “Creating Opportunities for Children and Youth” category under the Social Responsibility and Sustainability main category.
Rackets UpBrings Table Tennis to 180,000 Children
Launched by Hitit in 2018 in partnership with the Turkish Table Tennis Federation, Rackets Upaims to introduce table tennis to children with limited access to sports, while identifying promising young athletes at an early age and supporting their development. With its latest phase launched in Hatay, the project has reached 180,000 children and 495 teachers across 474 public schools in different provinces of Türkiye. Following the 2023 earthquakes, the initiative was also extended to container settlements in Kahramanmaraş and Malatya, helping children engage in sports and contributing to the wider reach of table tennis.
Bringing together the private sector, public institutions and the sporting community, Rackets Uppromotes equal opportunities in access to sports through a multi-stakeholder collaboration model. Hitit's financial support is complemented by the TMTF's expertise in project coordination and coach training, while contributions from local institutions and teachers help extend the initiative to reach public schools across different provinces.
Hitit Supports Young Athletes on Their Journey to the Olympics
Alongside Rackets Up, Hitit continues to support young national table tennis players as they pursue success on the international stage. Having previously provided travel sponsorship for national athletes Ece Haraç and Özge Yılmaz, Hitit is continuing its commitment to supporting emerging talent this year. Throughout 2026, the company has sponsored the travel of young national athletes Ela Su Yönter and Defne Üzümcü to international tournaments, with the aim of contributing to their development as they work towards their goal of competing at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.