Onur Tsoukour will compete in the Orestiada Championship next season. The Akrites announced on Monday the signing of the 25-year-old Turkish international passer for next year as they bolster their passing game and compete for a top spot in the next Men’s Volleyball League championship.
Çukur last season played for the Indian Kolkata Thunderbolts, while he has previous experience in the top teams of his country.
In detail, the announcement:
“The administration of TAA Athlos Orestiada announces the start of the cooperation with the Turkish athlete Onur Cukur. The 25-year-old international is this year’s first foreign transfer acquisition that will strengthen our team in the men’s Volley league season 2024-25.
Çukur was born on August 9, 1999 in Izmir, he is 2.03m tall and plays as a passer. Raised in a sports environment since he was a child, Onour, influenced by his mother, who was a volleyball player of Karsijaka for eight years, like his 19-year-old sister, Deren, turned to volleyball from an early age.
He took his first steps in the net in 2011 at the academies of Arkas, where he soon stood out. So, with the exception of the 2015-2016 year, when he played on loan at the neighboring TFL Altekma, he played in the Izmir club until 2017. Then he went to the USA, where, alongside his sports career in the college league with the “colors” from Grand Canyon University, studied sports psychology.
With valuable international experience and ‘performances’ from the top European competitions, the Turkish ace has competed in many leagues, representing foreign as well as Turkish clubs, including Galatasaray, with whom he finished second in the 2022-2023 season in the Turkish Cup and ninth in the CEV Cup.
He also played in the Czech Republic for Odolena Voda, while his last team was the Kolkata Thunderbolts in India.
One of the greatest talents of his generation in the neighboring country, Çukur represented Turkey’s representative group early on. Competing successfully in the youth national teams, Čukur won three consecutive Balkan championships in 2014, 2015 and 2016 as a member of the U16, U17 and U20 teams. At the same time, he was named the top passer in the 2015 Balkan Championship.
In 2017, he helped his country to a bronze medal at the European U19 Championship, while also competing at the 2017 FIVB U19 World Championship, finishing 11th in Bahrain.
After his official agreement with the management of the club, the new “maestro” of our team told athlosorestiadas.gr: “I am excited to become a member of the Athlos Orestiadas family. Joining the team will be an exciting step in my career where I will have the opportunity to showcase my game. I believe that with hard work and the “thirst” for distinction we will achieve great things in the new season.
I know that the Greek league is very difficult and competitive, with good teams and a very passionate audience. I believe we can stand out and show everyone what we can do. I can’t wait to join the team and play in front of our fans.”
The Athlos family welcomes Onour to Orestiada and wishes him a season full of health, success and many personal and team awards.
Onur Çukur’s career:
Born: 09-08-1999 Height: 2.03 Position: Passer
2024-25: A.O.Athlos Orestiada
2023-24: Kolkata Thunderbolts (India)
2022-23: Odolena Voda (Czech Republic) 2nd place Turkish Cup, 9th place Challenge Cup
2021–22: Solhan Spor Kulubu (Turkey)
2021–22: Galatasaray (Turkey) 2nd place Turkish Cup, 9th place CEV Cup
2017–21: Grand Canyon University (USA)
2015–16: TFL Altekma (Turkey)
2011–17: Arkas Spor (Turkey)
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