“Hossein Thori” In an interview with IRNA, the President of the Boxing Federation explained his presence at the World Summit in this field, the conditions of the national team and the change in the world view of Iranian boxing, the postponement of the Asian Games, the existence of margins and the impact of last year’s successes.
First, tell us about your presence at the World Summit.
The trip to Turkey to attend the World Boxing Summit was to elect the chairman and members of the board. The meeting lasted three days, two of which were elections. On the first day, no elections were held due to problems for one of the candidates, and the next day, the Russian “Kremlov” was elected as the only candidate without a vote and with the consent of those present as the world president. I think this post was his right and he made important changes with the awards he has given for continental and world competitions.
Did you meet with the presidents of several countries?
This is a very important point for me. Four years ago, when I attended the World Summit, other countries were reluctant to camp and compete with us, but now the situation is very different and everyone was looking to camp with the Iranian team. I think the successes achieved in 1400 changed the world boxing view of Iran.
What countries did you negotiate with?
With the Presidents and Representatives of Poland, Lithuania, Croatia, Hungary, France, Germany, Sweden and Norway from Europe; I visited Algeria, Morocco, Mali, South Africa and Egypt, Africa and several Asian countries. Interestingly, all of them wanted to come to Iran or our team to go to their country to hold a camp and a competition. Several countries in the Persian Gulf also requested a joint camp, which we are not very interested in because training with them is not technically beneficial for our country’s boxers.
Do you hear that you have invited the President of the World Federation to visit Iran?
Yes, he was invited in the past and we asked him to travel to Iran again in Turkey. He goes to most countries and we are trying to bring “Kremlov” to Tehran in the summer. We are planning to meet with the Minister of Sports and the Chairman of the National Olympic Committee during his visit to Tehran. He goes to any country and brings boxing facilities with him, and a trip to Tehran will definitely benefit Iranian boxing.
Let’s go to national competitions. Are all boxers required to participate in national competitions?
With the exception of the injured Meysam Gheshlaghi, all boxers must go to the ring in the Sistan and Baluchestan national fights, otherwise they will lose the national team. The federation, the provincial sports department and the provincial boxing board have divided the work so that we can see good matches.
Was the joint camp with Tajikistan scheduled for June canceled?
The target of the federation set was the Asian Games. We are implementing the plans and demands of the technical staff, and now that the time for the Asian Games is unknown, the joint army with Tajikistan has been canceled.
How do you assess the postponement of the Asian Games?
In general, it was for the benefit of the country’s sports. With these difficult financial conditions and the small amount of financial aid that is being provided, it is really difficult to prepare, and I must not forget that budget is very important in the process of preparing a team and a collection. It is strange that the new time of the games has not been determined yet and I hope this period will not be canceled at all.
Boxing, unlike the previous period, is one of the hopes of the Iranian convoy to win a medal in Hangzhou. How much do you hope for your team?
We planned and worked for four years to succeed in Hangzhou. We even announced at the meetings of the National Olympic Committee that we would win four medals in Hangzhou. Rest assured that if these games are held, the national boxing team will have an ideal performance.
Did the margins of the last few months affect the work process of the federation?
Margins are the salt of the work, and we have nothing to do with it at all. Whatever we do, some people oppose it, which of course does not matter to the federation. The criterion for measuring any set is performance, and I think 1400 was a historic year for Iranian boxing. The first world medal to be historic; World Army Medals and 22 Asian Medals were won in various categories. We held camps for all age groups and sent teams to all competitions despite financial problems. What else should we do? I want to make a point that is necessary.
What point?
With the funds that the federation has, it was not possible to implement half of these programs. With hard work and with the help of the federation and a group of friends who all really got to work, camps were organized and deployments were made. This means teamwork.
So do you believe that success was the result of teamwork?
This is exactly it. If I say that the success of the boxing federation belongs to me, I would be really unfair. One person may be to blame for a failure that ruins everything by a wrong decision, but success can only be achieved through teamwork and unity. From the staff of the federation to the technical staff, the nationalists, the officials of the federation, the heads of the delegations who are hard-working champions and the whole boxing family share in every success. Many have tried for many years and now boxing is on the bar of success and we will not write it in our name.