“Pegah Zanganeh” Yesterday’s champion and today’s coach of the Iranian women’s national karate team in an interview with IRNA described the process of his presence in this field, the memories of the championship and his view on Nowruz, which you can read below:
First of all, mention the time of starting karate activity.
I was born on February 6, 1983 and I started karate in 1975 under the supervision of “Maryam Moshiri” at Milad Club in Kermanshah. From the beginning until now, I have been in the style of “Shitorio Shitokai”. I’m happy with my choice of karate and I think that was what decided my fate. My presence in karate was very accidental, which of course I am satisfied with.
How did you get into this field?
I started the sport with gymnastics, but of course the injury caused me to distance myself from this sport. One day my father and I were walking on Saadi Street in Kermanshah and I saw Milad Academy, which was active in several fields. To reactivate in gymnastics, I asked the head of the club, who said that we are only interested in this sport in the non-junior category. My father said you do not like to go to karate? That’s what happened and the next day I registered for karate club in Milad and that’s how I got into this sport and I am very satisfied. My first coach at that club was Ms. Moshiri, with whom I still work.
How many medals are there in your showcase of honors?
The number of international and domestic medals is very large. I have about 50 international medals, the most important of which are one gold, two silver and two bronze medals of the Asian Championship, two gold and two bronze medals of Karate One, one gold and two silver medals of the Islamic Games and the bronze medal of the Jakarta Asian Games.
Which medal do you like the most?
Naturally, I like the medals of the Asian Games more because they were won in special circumstances. I was gone and back in the world of heroism while the looks on my return were not positive. There is always resistance against people who want to break the taboo. That’s why I like that medal so much.
What year did you become a national?
I joined the national team in 1979 or 1980, when I was about 17 years old. We went to the West Asian Games and we were told that anyone who won gold in the singles would be sent to the Busan Asian Games. I was the only one who won gold in solo. Of course, we also became champions in the team committee. Then there were some disputes and there was a discussion about hijab, and for this reason, the entire karate quota for the Busan Asian Games was given to the men’s team, and the women were not sent. We were not sent to the Doha Asian Games either because there was no permit.
Which coaches have you worked with over the years?
Ms. Moshiri, whose student I was both in the club and in the national team. Ms. Farkhnaz Arbab, Ms. Setareh Mousavi, Ms. Fariba Badaghi and Mr. Vahid Khajeh Hosseini and Mr. Masoud Rahnama were also my coaches.
What is your best memory of your years in karate?
The most beautiful memory that inspired me is the Shitorio World Championships. In 2009, the federation sent the national team to those competitions, which I believe marked the beginning of the development and transformation of Iranian women’s karate. In those fights, I won only the gold of the Iranian team in free weight. I really did not lose points and I was very ready. In the third fight, when I came on the tatami, I looked at my opponent’s face, who saw him as old, and I thought I had a very easy fight, but I hardly won two to one. When I came out, the national team coach told me that he was the Mexican “Lira Navarro” who had won two world championships. He also won a medal in the karate world again after those fights. Fighting that hero who was 38 years old inspired me that age can not be an obstacle to success.
I think your worst memory is the Incheon Asian Games, where you lost the medal with strange and non-technical events?
Exactly, you were in the competition hall and you are aware of all the conditions of that event. Judging issues and behind-the-scenes issues prevented me from winning the medal when I had to win gold. There was no technical discussion at all in those games. I think everyone is aware of the story and it is better not to talk more about it.
Your best competitor in karate?
I was with good players at the same time and we had the chance to be challenged by these opponents. Fighting with them made me progress. There are many and it is better not to mention a specific name.
The person who has helped you the most in karate?
From the karate family, Maryam Moshiri helped me a lot and was always a supporter. I remember the first year I participated in the national championship, he did not charge me any more at the club and was open to us 24 hours a day at the club. I really owe him.
Is it a harder player or a coach?
You may not have chosen. But a player has certain difficulties in terms of psychology, work and stress.
Have you not been with your family for years?
We competed in Morocco several times at the end of the year, but we returned on the last day of March and I took myself to my family. I’m glad I was always with my family on this important day. It is very important for me to set the table and be with my loved ones.
What do you think about the Eid tradition?
It is natural when you are a child to be happy with Eid and new scans. When I was a child, my aunt was a bank clerk and she always gave us new scans and beautiful coins for Eid. Of course, we have grown up now and we celebrate Eid more and we are ashamed to celebrate Eid (laughs).
The final word?
Let others decide for themselves. We must value each other, and there is no reason why anyone who disagrees with us should be an enemy. Differences of taste should never turn into enmity.