Basketball: Fenerbahce playmaker ends career

Turkey's Fenerbahce Women's Basketball team captain Birsel Vardarli Demirmen retired from professional basketball on Wednesday. "Our captain Birsel Vardarli Demirmen -- who proudly wore the Fenerbahce jersey for 13 years -- ended her basketball career,” the Istanbul club said in a statement on its website. The club thanked their 35-year-old veteran guard for her great efforts on the court. In her 13-year spell at Fenerbahce, Vardarli had 675 club appearances, marking a club record for her in this field. During her career, she won 10 Turkish league titles with Fenerbahce. Vardarli also lifted six Turkish Cups and six Presidential Cups at the Istanbul team.