Can Akkuzu
Can Akkuzu, a brilliant representative of French table tennis, has made a lasting impression on his discipline with a career punctuated by outstanding performances and success on both the national stage, where he became French champion in 2019, and the international stage, reaching 42nd in the world rankings in 2023.
Can Akkuzu has been a key member of Team Cornilleau since 2012. This partnership, built on strong shared values and a solid, long-term collaboration, is destined to endure for years to come.
Born on 05/23/1997
2019 French Champion
Best world ranking #40 (07/2023)
Achievements
2024
Bronze medal at the French Singles Championships
2023
Bronze medal at the European Team Championships
2023
Bronze medal at the European Games (Team)
2019
French Singles Champion
2019
Bronze medal at the European Team Championships
2018
Bronze medal at the French Singles Championships
Discover his video portrait:
Interview:
What do you love about ping?
Actually, ping is a very complex sport because there is the technique, but there is also the physical and mental dimension which is very important. And the ball goes very fast and the opponent is very close to us, so you also need to have great reactivity with many parameters coming into play that sometimes we don't even control.
The mental aspect of table tennis is definitely very, very important. It's already true in sports in general, in life in general, and very much so in table tennis. It’s true that I work with a mental coach; we work on the physical, we work on the technique, and you also have to work on the mental side because it is a skill, and that's where it can sometimes even make the difference. It's a very complex sport and above all, I think, very technical. There is a huge amount of spin that sometimes you don't see on TV, and it's true that spin, speed, and power are really the qualities and characteristics of this sport, which is why it is such a rich sport.
What type of player are you?
I am an aggressive player; I like to take the ball early. I also like it when the rally lasts from time to time, but I am still someone who takes the ball early and tries to impose my system of play. I adapt very little to the other person and really try to impose my speed and my aggressiveness—that's how I try to make the difference.
What is your favorite aspect of ping?
The aspect I prefer throughout my career is really pushing one's limits. Sometimes before matches, we are in a situation where we don't know if we will manage to win the match, to play well, or to feel good in the arena. And when you manage to go beyond that, to overcome that, it's really a feeling that I think only sport can make us feel.
Do you have a passion outside of ping?
I'd say if I have a passion, it's coffee. Yes, I drink a lot of it, and I also read up on it. Do I know a lot about it? I don't know. But in any case, it's really something I enjoy: learning about new flavors, reading, and documenting myself on the subject…