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Hoops & Hijabs: Iran's women begin new journey in world basketball
Maxin Mathew | TNN | Updated: Oct 25, 2017, 14:05 IST
TNN
(Photo courtesy: FIBA)
HIGHLIGHTS
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Questions on their return to international competition after 38 years, women's basketball in Iran and playing with the hijab (headscarf for Muslim women) have now become routine for the duo. But a query on their favourite NBA player had the girls and their coach in gleeful fits of laughter.
"LeBron James, of course," quips Rojin, drowning out her coach's meek vote for Stephen Curry. "Why? Because he encourages women in hijab to come out and play. He fights for us," said the point guard, who then pushed up her sleeve slightly to proudly show off a wristband of the Cleveland Cavaliers' superstar.
LeBron had in January voiced his support for Massachusetts player Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir, whose dream of a professional basketball career had been crushed due to FIBA's ban on headgear in international competitions.
The Iran U-16 women's team in Bengaluru. Photos courtesy: FIBA
The world basketball body's rule prohibited any headgear wider than five inches, which caused a serious dent on the ambitions of hijab-wearing players world over. But earlier this year, FIBA's representatives watched an exhibition game of basketball in Tehran featuring women wearing hijabs to assess the practicality and safety of playing with headgear.
The event was historic - it was the first time, since the 1979 Revolution, that men witnessed a women's sport in person in Iran and the game also played a big role in FIBA's decision to overturn the long-standing ban on hijabs, turbans and yarmulkes. The ban was officially lifted on October 1 and the U-16 Championship is the first official FIBA tournament to witness the beginning of a new era.
Back in international spotlight after nearly four decades, the Iranian team - dressed in full-body red uniforms under their loose-fitting national jerseys - are hoping to make the best of it. "It was our dream to play international basketball. We are so happy we are here now," Darestani said. "We can now wear the hijab on court; we can play in front of men."
Having coached several age-group women's teams, including those in Iran's Super League, Darestani sees her biggest miss -not having been able to represent Iran abroad as a player - see fulfillment through these young girls. "We are happy that now we can show the world how Iran's girls play," she said.
There are plenty of tournaments for girls in Iran, the coach said, where teams from different cities compete against each other. But there were times when the situation was grim. During the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war, a determined Darestani got her basketball-loving girls out of the battle-hit city of Kermanshah to Tehran, where she ran camps to keep the spirit of the sport alive. "Once the war broke out, I could no longer stay in Kermanshah. I got 15 girls out of there to the camp in Tehran, where they trained behind closed doors," said Darestani.
Fatemeh and Rojin, who go for private tuitions to improve their English, were confident that the lifting of the headgear ban is a welcome change for Iranian basketball. "It's a good decision. Yes, before this, we were hoping that one day we will get to play. Now, that day has come," said Fatemeh.
Though Tuesday's game ended in a defeat against India, Iran's spirited girls can take pride in their much-awaited international appearance, which in itself is their biggest triumph yet.
Iranian girls were allowed to play basketball at World Championships
Maxin Mathew | TNN | Updated: Oct 25, 2017, 14:05 IST
(Photo courtesy: FIBA)
HIGHLIGHTS
- Fatemeh Mortazavi and Rojin Talakoub are women hoopsters in Iran who play with the hijab
- FIBA's long-standing ban on hijabs, turbans and yarmulkes was officially lifted on October 1 and the U-16 Championship in Bengaluru is the first official FIBA tournament to witness the beginning of a new era
TOP NEWS HEADLINES
Deadline for mandatory Aadhaar to avail govt schemes now March 31, 2018
25 Oct 2017, 15:57
H-1B visa: India requests US not to take any adverse action
25 Oct 2017, 14:55
Gujarat polls to be held on December 9, 14; counting on Dec 18
25 Oct 2017, 13:37
Live score: India vs New Zealand, 2nd ODI, Pune
25 Oct 2017, 16:55
Sensex, Nifty finish on record highs, PSU bank stocks surge
25 Oct 2017, 15:57
With Xi Jinping firmly at helm, these men will now run China
25 Oct 2017, 10:47
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25 Oct 2017, 14:15
BJP set to score easy wins in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, says survey
25 Oct 2017, 07:07
Government simplifies Aadhaar-based verification of existing SIMs
25 Oct 2017, 15:11
13-year-old Jaipur boy buys scooter for sister with coins worth Rs 62,000
25 Oct 2017, 16:35
Questions on their return to international competition after 38 years, women's basketball in Iran and playing with the hijab (headscarf for Muslim women) have now become routine for the duo. But a query on their favourite NBA player had the girls and their coach in gleeful fits of laughter.
"LeBron James, of course," quips Rojin, drowning out her coach's meek vote for Stephen Curry. "Why? Because he encourages women in hijab to come out and play. He fights for us," said the point guard, who then pushed up her sleeve slightly to proudly show off a wristband of the Cleveland Cavaliers' superstar.
LeBron had in January voiced his support for Massachusetts player Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir, whose dream of a professional basketball career had been crushed due to FIBA's ban on headgear in international competitions.
The Iran U-16 women's team in Bengaluru. Photos courtesy: FIBA
The world basketball body's rule prohibited any headgear wider than five inches, which caused a serious dent on the ambitions of hijab-wearing players world over. But earlier this year, FIBA's representatives watched an exhibition game of basketball in Tehran featuring women wearing hijabs to assess the practicality and safety of playing with headgear.
The event was historic - it was the first time, since the 1979 Revolution, that men witnessed a women's sport in person in Iran and the game also played a big role in FIBA's decision to overturn the long-standing ban on hijabs, turbans and yarmulkes. The ban was officially lifted on October 1 and the U-16 Championship is the first official FIBA tournament to witness the beginning of a new era.
Back in international spotlight after nearly four decades, the Iranian team - dressed in full-body red uniforms under their loose-fitting national jerseys - are hoping to make the best of it. "It was our dream to play international basketball. We are so happy we are here now," Darestani said. "We can now wear the hijab on court; we can play in front of men."
Having coached several age-group women's teams, including those in Iran's Super League, Darestani sees her biggest miss -not having been able to represent Iran abroad as a player - see fulfillment through these young girls. "We are happy that now we can show the world how Iran's girls play," she said.
There are plenty of tournaments for girls in Iran, the coach said, where teams from different cities compete against each other. But there were times when the situation was grim. During the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war, a determined Darestani got her basketball-loving girls out of the battle-hit city of Kermanshah to Tehran, where she ran camps to keep the spirit of the sport alive. "Once the war broke out, I could no longer stay in Kermanshah. I got 15 girls out of there to the camp in Tehran, where they trained behind closed doors," said Darestani.
Fatemeh and Rojin, who go for private tuitions to improve their English, were confident that the lifting of the headgear ban is a welcome change for Iranian basketball. "It's a good decision. Yes, before this, we were hoping that one day we will get to play. Now, that day has come," said Fatemeh.
Though Tuesday's game ended in a defeat against India, Iran's spirited girls can take pride in their much-awaited international appearance, which in itself is their biggest triumph yet.
Iranian girls were allowed to play basketball at World Championships
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