Interview
Arab Ameri, the deputy manager of Taekwondo federation on women’s affair in an interview with Shirzanan
Iranian coaches were successful
Shirzanan: Sarah Shamssaie /translation by Roja Najafi: It is interesting to note the changes in taekwondo federation’s attitude after the good outcome of Sarah Khoshjamal-Fekri in Olympics qualification games. Before Sarah’s obtaining the bronze medal, the federation believed that women’s attendance in Olympic qualification games is only has a self-examination purpose, now and after the games they believe that even Sayahi, the other Iran women’s team member, could win a medal if she was more experienced.
Arab Amery, the deputy manager of taekwondo federation, who before these games believed that the chances are low for women’s team to gain any place for Olympics, now says “Khoshjamal, is a number one athlete; she is brilliant and well-skilled and with good games she won her title.”
Arab Amery, who is extremely happy about this result, in an interview with Shirzanan answers our questions about this change of attitude:
Before Vietnam you did not give that much chance to any achievements but these days in your interviews you say that we could predict this success. How do you explain this change of attitude?
Before we go to Vietnam, we failed in Manchester qualification games, and that cost a lot of criticism from the press, but we always believed in our girls’ abilities.
But you have said that you won’t promise any title or medals! You said we are only hopeful?
I said if it only depends on us we will obtain medals by sure; but since there are many unpredictable factors in any international games I did not promise anything. Press like to cause a scandal out of everything.
Then can we say that you have predicted Khoshjama-Fekri’s medal?
Yes, Khoshjamal had won two times before this games in Beijing and in Doha. In Vietnam she tried more and with more devotion and she got what she deserved. Her achievement will change the attitude towards women’s sport in other fields in Iran, I am sure of that.
How do you feel that she gained this title in your time in office?
The fact that in whose office time we won, is not important. What is important is the fact that we won this title in one of the most crowded weight groups in Asia. I thank God for that. And I am sure this result will bring glory to all women’s sports in Iran.
Many people were against taking Siyahi to these games. They argued we have more chance of wining on +67 Kg than -67 Kg.
Siyahi was highly determined and she was ready. The only thing was she was not experienced enough so she did not win any medals.
There are many rumors that say we are going to hire foreign coaches for the team, is this true? And if yes how effective these coaches will be for the team?
Federation tends to get coaches from Chinese Taipei and Korea for the Olympics preparation. But we should not forget that Maryam Mehr Azar and Mino Madah were the two Iranian coaches in the world championship in china who did it all without the Korean coach. Also the outcome of Vietnam qualification games is another proof for their technical abilities. We gain Olympics place with the knowledge of Iranian coaches.
