STORY: Turkish Wushu athlete speaking Chinese gains attention on Chinese social media
DATELINE: Aug. 13, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:37
LOCATION: ISTANBUL, Türkiye
CATEGORY: SPORTS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the training
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Turkish): NUSRET KAYHAN ALTUNKAYA, Turkish Wushu athlete
3. various of the Chengdu Universiade
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Turkish): NUSRET KAYHAN ALTUNKAYA, Turkish Wushu athlete

STORYLINE:

A Turkish Wushu athlete speaking Chinese during a media interview at the Chengdu Universiade, has gained much attention on Chinese social media.
 
The Universiade ran from July 28 to August 8, drawing a total of 6,500 student-athletes from 113 countries and regions.
   
Nusret Kayhan Altunkaya told Xinhua that he became an online "celebrity" after his video was posted on social media accounts in China.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Turkish): NUSRET KAYHAN ALTUNKAYA, Turkish Wushu athlete
"The media officers in the Universiade Village were filming videos as we walked around, and someone asked me a question in English. I answered in Chinese. Then we had a Chinese conversation. Then they edited the video and shared it.
When I went out the next day, everyone who saw me wanted to take pictures with me and asked for my autograph. I was surprised."

Altunkaya later learned that the video of him speaking in Chinese had received over 20 million views on social media.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Turkish): NUSRET KAYHAN ALTUNKAYA, Turkish Wushu athlete
"When I speak Chinese, it always attracts attention. But this is the first time I have seen such tremendous interest. I was thrilled, to be honest. This is a very good memory in my life. I'll never forget this one."

Altunkaya spent four years practicing Wushu in China from 2016 to 2020. At the Universiade, Altunkaya received a bronze medal in the sport.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Istanbul, Türkiye.
(XHTV)