The Shine of Women's Basketball in Iran Without Federation Support

Representatives of women's basketball in Iran participated in a three-on-three basketball tournament supervised by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). This comes as the deadline set by FIBA for the establishment of women's basketball with Islamic hijab has expired. During this time, the Iranian Basketball Federation failed to organize even a single friendly match to attract FIBA's attention. FIBA had stated that conducting matches and providing footage and documentation to this organization were conditions for the approval of Islamic clothing. Now, a three-on-three basketball team from Iran, featuring national team players and funded personally, has participated in an official tournament and achieved victory. Delaram Vakili, Saideh Ali, Golara Kakavandpour, Sahar Najafi, and Azadeh Moeini are stars of women's basketball in Iran who also led their team to the championship in the Premier League. They traveled to Ashgabat under the coaching of Frank Teyari. In the Turkmenistan tournament, with a FIBA representative present, Delaram Vakili won first place in the three-point shooting competition, which is the most exciting side event of basketball. Teams from Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and two teams from the host country participated in these competitions. Despite lacking international experience, the Iranian team managed to defeat Kazakhstan but lost to Russia and Kyrgyzstan. ISNA news agency reported: 'The question arises as to how the Basketball Federation cannot organize a friendly match for women, yet the women themselves, with financial support, can do so?' Women's basketball in Iran has a long history in Asia. Before many countries in this continent began their activities, Iran had a regular women's basketball league in the 1950s. The league is still held today, but unlike football, volleyball, handball, and even kabaddi for women, there are no international relations for women's basketball in Iran. Eight years ago, the last national team was sent 'to participate in official competitions,' traveling to Syria, where they defeated Iraq and finished fourth in West Asia after losing to Lebanon and Syria. During this time, Iran's hosting of West Asian competitions was even canceled, with the Basketball Federation citing the presence of male coaches and referees in foreign teams as the reason. Mahmoud Mashhoon, who holds dual nationality and travels to the United States every year, stated that this issue contradicts our culture, beliefs, and religious values. The international federation considers playing in pants and wearing hats illegal. Accordingly, Iran's last participation in Asian competitions was in 1974. In the previous government, Marzieh Akbarabadi, the deputy for women's sports in the Ministry of Sports, stated that women's basketball is an 'extra sport.' Several female basketball players have emigrated. Fataneh Hadoyi, the national team's head coach, has repeatedly emphasized that if we do not participate in competitions, the girls will change their field of study. A look at the composition of the Iranian women's national basketball team shows that most are not even Muslim, so the Islamic hijab is not 'of their own choice.' Vaneh Khachoumian, Edna Isaiyan, Narineh Ardashinian, Vana Mousikhanyan, and Irene Artounian are among the players of the Iranian national basketball team who, although not Muslim, cannot participate in official competitions due to the laws of the Islamic Republic.