Sugar Land Sports Center (SLSC) is raising funds to send its best kickboxing athletes and coaches to represent Team USA at the upcoming WAKO World Championships in Abu Dhabi this November. With the guidance of coach Faruk Mert Yüksel —former Turkish national team athlete who earned special permission to represent the U.S.—our team is ready to compete on the global stage. But we need your help to cover travel, lodging, gear, and competition costs so our athletes can focus fully on performing their best.

Why This Matters / Our Story

Coach Faruk Mert Yüksel is a 15‑time national champion in Turkey, and he has also captured titles representing the U.S.

Murat Elmas likewise comes from a deep background in Turkish kickboxing and has joined Coach Faruk in coaching in the U.S.

Both coaches were granted special permission by the Turkish Kickboxing Federation to represent another country (the U.S.) in world championships, acknowledging their elite skill and unique contributions.

At the U.S. National Championships, they’ve already shown excellence—collecting gold and silver medals in recent events.

SLSC is proud to support these coaches and their athletes, who combine international-level experience and grassroots development in our community.

This trip is more than a competition: it’s an investment in the future of our sport locally, nationally, and internationally. Every athlete who steps on the mat in Abu Dhabi will carry the SLSC name—and the support of our community—into the arena.

Who Will Compete

Athlete Count: Between 5 to 10 SLSC athletes are expected to qualify for Team USA in various WAKO divisions (e.g. Light Contact, Full Contact, Point Fighting, etc.).

The exact roster will be finalized closer to the event once qualifiers are confirmed.

These athletes have trained rigorously through regional and national competitions and are eager to prove themselves on the world stage.