The Fenerbahçe İstanbul Jet wheelchair basketball team secured its place in club history by winning both the EuroCup 1 and the Tekerlekli Sandalye Basketbol Süper Ligi titles in the 2023-2024 season, according to official league records and team statements. The achievement marks the first time a Turkish squad has claimed both European and domestic championships in the same campaign, according to the European Paralympic Committee (EPC).
Historic Double for Fenerbahçe
Fenerbahçe’s dominance in wheelchair basketball reached a new peak after a 78-62 victory over Spanish rivals CB Málaga in the EuroCup 1 final on May 12, 2024, at the Palacio de Deportes de Badalona in Spain. The team also clinched the Süper Ligi title with a 14-2 regular-season record, according to the Turkish Wheelchair Basketball Federation (TBF).
The double triumph was celebrated by Fenerbahçe President Cem Özdemir, who stated, “This is a milestone for our club and Turkish wheelchair basketball. The players, coaching staff, and supporters have created something unforgettable.” The team’s head coach, İsmail Güler, attributed the success to “a blend of tactical discipline, physical preparation, and mental resilience,” as reported by the official Fenerbahçe website.
Key Moments and Standout Performances
The EuroCup 1 campaign featured several pivotal moments, including a 90-85 overtime win against French team AS Monacu in the semifinals. Forward Hasan Demir, who led the tournament with 22.3 points per game, scored 28 in the final, according to EuroCup statistics. Guard Eren Aksoy added 15 points and 10 assists, while center Selim Yılmaz dominated the boards with 12 rebounds.
In the Süper Ligi, Fenerbahçe’s 105-79 victory over Beşiktaş in the regular-season finale sealed their title. The team’s average margin of victory was 18.7 points, the highest in the league, per TBF data. The squad’s defensive efficiency rating of 98.3 was also the best in the league, according to Basketball-Reference’s wheelchair basketball database.
Impact on European and Domestic Standings
The double title positions Fenerbahçe as the top-ranked wheelchair basketball team in Europe, according to the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) rankings. The victory also grants the team automatic qualification for the 2025 EuroCup 1, as per the competition’s rules.
Domestically, the win extends Fenerbahçe’s Süper Ligi dominance to eight consecutive titles, a record unmatched in Turkish wheelchair basketball history. The club’s previous best was a five-year streak from 2016 to 2021, according to TBF archives.
Next Steps for Fenerbahçe
Fenerbahçe’s next major challenge is the 2024 Paralympic Qualification Tournament in Malmö, Sweden, scheduled for August 15-20. The team will face Germany, France, and Canada in the group stage, according to the IWBF’s official tournament schedule.
President Özdemir confirmed the club’s focus on “maintaining our competitive edge” ahead of the qualifiers. The team is also preparing for the 2024-2025 Süper Ligi season, which begins in October, with a target of “defending our title and pushing for European success,” according to a press release.
Context and Legacy
Fenerbahçe’s achievement follows a decade of investment in wheelchair basketball, including the construction of a dedicated training facility in Istanbul’s Kadıköy district. The club’s youth academy has produced 12 players who have competed in Paralympic Games, according to the Turkish Olympic Committee (TOKI).
The victory also highlights the growth of wheelchair basketball in Turkey, where participation has increased by 40% since 2020, per TBF reports. The sport’s popularity has been boosted by the success of national teams in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, where Turkey won a bronze medal in the men’s tournament.
The Fenerbahçe İstanbul Jet’s historic double cements its status as a global powerhouse in wheelchair basketball. As the team turns its attention to the Paralympic qualifiers, fans worldwide will be watching to see if they can replicate their European success on the international stage.
