The Women’s National Canoe Polo Team of Iran is facing many problems during the cold season.
Saba Rahmati, a member of the Women’s National Canoe Polo Team of Iran, said, “We do not have a well-equipped pool in Khorramabad, that is why we are practicing in Keeyow Lake.” The arrival of the cold season has contributed to the problems and practically eliminated the possibility for the Women’s National Canoe Polo Team to practice.
“We have good talents in the Canoe Polo field who can reach the highest levels, but since we practice at the Keeyow Lake in Khorramabad, many families do not allow their daughters to participate. Now it’s a season that does not allow us to train in the lake because of the cold and we cannot have our practices regularly,” said Saba Rahmati in an interview about the Women’s National Canoe Polo Team.
Regarding the success of the Women’s National Canoe Polo Team in Iran, the canoe-poloist from Lorestan said, “Canoe Polo was first tested in the Asian games which led us to the championships, and is now considered an Olympic field. Therefore, officials should pay more attention to it. Women’s sports should be one of the concerns of the authorities so that we can succeed.” (The state-run ISNA news agency – October 27, 2018)
Iranian women athletes do not have any governmental support. The restrictions imposed on them – for example, the ban on the official broadcast of women’s sports competitions from state television – have worsened their situation because they cannot obtain any nongovernmental or private sponsors. This situation has had serious consequences for them. Sometimes the teams have been completely disbanded, and occasionally teams have not been able to travel to another city to participate in a tournament.
Not only do professional athletes not receive any wages, but gold medalists are also left to provide for their livelihoods through street peddling and farming.
