Dariush Rostami, a table tennis player from Kerman, told Amordad he hopes the medalists of the Janbakhtegan Cup will continue their athletic journey beyond the tournament.
How long have you been playing table tennis?
I started in middle school, though my involvement has varied over time.
How many times have you joined the Janbakhtegan Cup?
This is probably my seventh or eighth time.
Have you ranked in previous years?
Yes, I’ve usually placed second or third.
You played last night. How do you see the tournament?
The venue is great. I think the early rounds should help players connect and build friendships, not just focus on competition.
If we want medalists to grow in their sport, there needs to be a plan—like forming a team of top players supported by the Zoroastrian community, so they can compete nationally. Right now, players often leave after the tournament with no follow-up. In provincial leagues, they find real opportunities and realize this event lacks long-term support.
Fortunately, Behdokht Barkhordar, the Zoroastrian MP, mentioned at the opening that talent development is being planned. Hopefully, this leads to real progress. I truly hope every medalist has the chance to grow further—and that a selected team will eventually form.
Are you satisfied with the dormitory conditions?
A proper dormitory should have beds—unfortunately, that’s not the case here. The space being used is actually a school classroom, which naturally lacks the necessary facilities. There’s no dedicated dorm for athletes. If a dormitory and dining hall had been built within the Markar complex, it would have made a huge difference.
A real dorm means having beds, basic amenities, and rooms shared by a reasonable number of people—like five per room. But here, we have twelve people sleeping on the floor with just mattresses, which leads to discomfort and potential conflict. This setup isn’t a dormitory—it’s a temporary rest space.
Of course, I understand that the organizers have done what they can within their means, and I appreciate their efforts. Still, having a proper dorm would be a major improvement.
How about showers and meals?
In the current setup, there’s only one shower in the school building being used as a dorm. For meals, we paid during registration—breakfast and lunch are served at the dorm, and dinner is provided at the venue.
For a tournament of this scale, it’s really important to have all necessary facilities on-site. Markar has enough space, and with the help of supporters or donors, a proper dormitory could definitely be built.
Where did you train before participating in this tournament?
We train year-round alongside other athletes from Kerman at the Ardeshir Hemmati Sports Club.
I hope tournaments like this continue and produce positive results. The aim should be to provide medalists with opportunities and motivation to advance to the national level. Thankfully, Pantea Babakan and Behdokht Barkhordar have committed to implementing talent identification programs, and we look forward to seeing great outcomes this year.
