Shirzanan | شیر زنان

It was not a failure

2008-10-28T18:44:12Z

..... Iran Girls' Volleyball team is in11th place in Asia after these competitions. Our girls' team lost their match to India, although during the match they appeared somewhat equal. Of course the 11th place is not a bad place considering the short time the team had for preparation, but it also shows that the girls' team had a long way a head to get to what it really deserves.

Iran was in a very tough group for the competitions; South Korea and Thailand are among the best volleyball teams in Asia. Another unfortunate occasion was the fact that Iran Girls' volleyball team had lost one of the teams best players fro the main matches due to her injuries during a preparatory match with Philippine team. Vida Sheikh Mozafary got injured and the team missed her during the competitions. This result was not a failure just a natural outcome of an inexperienced and new team. We can only hope to perform better in future competitions by more practices and better planning.

Mitra Shabani is the head coach for Iran girl' volleyball team.

Tatami, was a cradle for Parmis

2008-10-28T18:44:02Z

.... Paramis has an unusual talent in Kyokushin kaikan. Kyokushin kaikan is a style of stand-up, full contact karate. The practitioner in this style believe that Karate without full contact is useless. This branch has many fans among Karatekas in Iran and other countries, but since it involves direct physical fight it is not an Olympic game. Thus Iran does not have a National team in this branch of Karate.

Shirin says, “ Karate is a belief system. It affects both your body and soul; you need to have certain principles. Karate increases concentration and that really helped my daughters. Now that they both are flourishing in this sport I cannot leave them alone. I need to find a way for them to go to Japan and I need to find sponsors.” She sadly adds, “ It is hard, companies don't want to sponsor them because their picture cannot appear on billboards.”

Their coach, Ms. Rezaie who is 27 now, think of Darya and Paramis as her best students. She regrets the fact that financial problems don't let them to show their talents in international fields. She says, “ Since Karate federation in Iran does not support uncontrolled forms of Karate we need to charge a fee for the viewers when we have competitions.” She continues, “ We need to pay for medical experts to be present at all time as well as the security crew, we should pay for them too.”

Kyokushin kaikan is an interesting branch of karate in search for sponsors in general and specifically for females; the practitioners in this branch need to make it known to people so they can receive both governmental and private help for it. When Shirin contact Shirzanan to let us know about the obstacles in this field, she says, “ even if I don't find any sponsor for my girls I like people to know about Karate and Kyokushin kaikan.”

You can find a photo report of Kyokushin kaikan on Shirzanan this week.

Women's Cricket team in Asian championship

2008-10-28T18:41:56Z

Shirzanan: Iran women's cricket team under 19 is going to Thailand for Asian championship.
Reza Alidabir, the head of Rugby, Softball and Cricket federation told Shirzanan, “ this women's under 19 team got the approval for deployment to Thailand in November. Up to now countries such as, Malaysia, Afghanistan, Nepal, Maldives, Oman, Qatar, Emirates and China have signed in for these (...) - خبر و گزارش / تخصصی, 75

The first cycling league in Iran

2008-10-28T18:41:15Z

Shirzanan: Finally after long wait the first women cycling league was held in Iran in Qazvin city.
Neissan, the head of cycling federation stated, “ Fortunately, this league was successfully held and it was very well received.” More than 10 teams were participating in this league. Shirzanan reports that the cyclists compete in 500-meter time trail, Track cycling and long distance cycling (3K). In 500 m speed, Adele Nouri from Sistan Balouchestan province (Shahrak Sanati) with 37:49 second (...) - خبر و گزارش / دوچرخه سواری, 75

Women's wrestling Alish style next week on Shirzanan

2008-10-28T18:40:27Z

Shirzanan: an exclusive interview with a member of Alish wrestling team was published two weeks ago in Shirzanan, Due to many of your requests, Neda Youssfkhani ahs answred your questions regarding this branch of wrestling. Please read this report next week in Shirzanan weekly. - خبر و گزارش / تخصصی, 75

Gyachung Kang peak Conquest

2008-10-28T18:37:41Z

Shirzanan: Iran women's national climbing team conquered the 7,952 meters Gyachung Kang peak in Nepal. The head of the team was Pouria Parchami and the climbing duration was one month. The team had 8 climbers four from Tehran and 4 from other provinces. - خبر و گزارش / کوهنوردی/سنگنوردی, 75

No plans for Azad University Ping-Pong team

2008-10-28T18:37:01Z

Shirzanan: Although it is less than a week to the women's national ping pong league in Iran, Azad Unoversity team is still uncertain.
Since many of its players are playing for other teams this team is in a bad situation. Iran Elyasvand, the head of the team said, “ we don't have a final format. We don't know who is playing for us.” - خبر و گزارش / پینگ پنگ, 75

Badminton players are objecting to Isfahan being the host

2008-10-28T18:36:38Z

Shirzanan: The first term of the women's National badminton league was ended in Isfahan, where most of the teams complained about the referees.
Badminton players of the primary league complained about their dormitory as well was the unfair jury committee. The coach of Arman Fars team said, “ the completions had high level but the referees were very weak and bad. Many teams were hurt by their clumsy (...) - خبر و گزارش / بدمینتون, 75

photo report of Kyokushin kaikan

2008-10-28T18:31:19Z

The practice of girls' team in Shirzanan/ by Nasim Goli. Please see it HERE - خبر و گزارش / کاراته, 75

Women's sport among Sports writers

2008-10-28T18:00:44Z

Shirzanan – Nasrin Afzali: You can find the first part of this interview on our previous issue under the title of “Why sports reporters are not interested in Women's sports”.

What is the main difference between seated volleyball and volleyball that media can cover women's seated volleyball but not their standing volleyball match?

I think because of its seated position women can wear looser dresses and outfits so their body is not shown much. The pressure was a lot during the last decade on women's athletic outfit. So the newspapers preferred not to show any pictures on women's sports. To me it is only natural for the women's sports to be an interesting subject. For example a report on women's team handball covering every details of the team and their games and strategies is very interesting.

To know hwy they are playing handball is also interesting. But this kind of thinking is for the time that we are not concerned with insignificant details regarding women's images in media. When everyone gets in trouble with a single photo of a female athlete you cannot work on women's sports. And you see it is not only the reporter or photographer or the newspaper that gets into trouble, the athlete also is in danger.

So no image means no readers and fans and that means we cannot expect women's sports to be flourishing. One of the most important motivations for athletes is for them to be known publicly and for them to have fans. There are many limits and as long as these limits are there, Iran's women's sports are not expected to be internationally known.

What do you think of Iranian women who went to Olympics with the White Card?

That is very symbolic. In Sidney Olympics Iran's banner holder was a woman. I believe her name was Lida Fariman. This is purly symbolic since she did not even get pass the qualifications. Iran used its Olympic white card two times. It is a show when inside the country they want women to exercise within their homes and not in an open field or park. So the officials choose a woman in Shooting to go to Olympics.

So you think it is because in shooting women can be fully dressed?

Exactly, someone who is completely in Islamic outfit. Aslo it is symbolic because it is nonetheless shooting, it is a sport that symbolizes the fight, a Muslim women's ideology of sort. Of course that also helped the process that women's sports has in Iran today: it is growing.

Is sports under the government sponsored and government controlled in other places in the world?

Yes, in Eastern block and some communist countries it is the same. Socialist countries like Cuba or North Korea have the same problem. They should used the government money since there is no private club to invest in sports. When the government own everything they have a say in policies.

Almost all International federations are pushing for more private investments in sports: for example FIFA wants football to be separated from government, because the governmental-run football is not dynamic enough. There is not enough competition and naturally the countries football stays in the same level.

I think when investment cannot happen freely, improvement is harder to achieve; In Iran the Physical Education Organization and the government had asked athletic federations to give some money to women's branches of each field. But it is only an appearance: only 5 percent of the budget goes to women's sports and government funds all athletic federations and clubs; don't think the Azad University team is private. No the government is among the trustees of every club and organization.