Iran’s women’s national handball team made history on Friday night when they participated in their first match in a world championship.
The opening match against Romania was heavy for the debutants and they lost 9-35 against the Romanians.
But despite Iran being historic and participating in the World Cup for the first time, Iranian TV channels do not show the World Cup matches. This is because the opponents are not dressed according to Iranian rules.
This is confirmed by the captain of Iran, Maryam Yousefi, to TV 2.
– This is how the rules are in Iran. I know the rules, but I try to play and show myself because there are other countries that show us, says Maryam Yousefi to TV 2. Yousefi who has 151 matches for the national team.
– VETERAN: Maryam Yousefi has 151 games for the Iranian national team. Photo: Beate Oma Dahle / NTB.
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Hergeirsson stated
Norway comfortably won 46-18 in their opening match against Kazakhstan. They face Iran next Sunday in their second group game match.
Iran captured one of five tickets to the World Cup in Spain when they came in fourth place in the Asian Championship.
National team manager Thorir Hergeirsson believes it is in “the count’s time” that Iran is in the World Cup.
– We can enjoy it, because it is a big part of the world. We want to be a world sport, and then we need to include them as well. Now they get some references, even though they got it tough in the opening and get it tough against Norway on Sunday. Hopefully they will be shown on TV in their home country, so young girls are inspired. Maybe the ball has started to roll, he says to TV 2.
Then TV 2 could inform Hergeirsson that the World Cup matches will not be shown on Iranian television. Then he sighed in despair, before saying:
– It’s a shame. There is nothing more to say about it. They have their rules.
– NATIONAL TEAM MANAGER: Thorir Hergeirsson is given up when TV 2 reports that Iranian TV does not show the World Cup matches. Photo: Kristin Grønning / TV 2.
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– It’s sad
Several of the Norwegian handball girls also reacted when TV 2 told about the decision to Iranian TV and sympathize with the Iranian players.
– It is a pity that they do not get to show up at home. We can not change either. It is a pity that it is like that and I wish the Iranian people could also see some good handball, says Kari Brattset Dale after the opening match.
Strek colleague Maren Aardahl agrees.
– My first thought is that it is a pity that they do not get to show themselves when they play for their country, says championship debutant Maren Aardahl.
– There are different cultures, so it is difficult to say anything about it, but it is sad that it is like that. Unfortunately, there are still some places like that, says Camilla Herrem to TV 2.
– SIX GOALS: Camilla Herrem scored six goals in the match against Kazakhstan. Photo: Kristin Grønning / TV 2.
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Bent Dahl, who is in the Romanian coaching team, does not think anything about the Iranian people not getting to see their country women in action during the World Cup.
– I think handball can contribute to this. Even though Iranian TV does not broadcast the matches, there are quite a few Iranians who are on social media and they watch handball. I have several Iranian followers who follow me, so there is a lot of interest in fact, Dahl says to TV 2.
– OPENING MATCH: Bent Dahl and Romania won their first match in the World Cup against Iran. Photo: Kristin Grønning / TV 2.
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