Fariba Rostamifard, mother of two players in the Martyrs’ Cup, has called on the organizers to ensure that when two teams compete, the age and height differences between players are not too great.
Do you attend the Martyrs’ Cup every year?
Yes, we come every year because my children participate in the event.
How would you assess the level of the games?
I mainly watched table tennis since my daughter plays and my other daughter officiates as a referee. I personally prefer that venue. My son plays football and was happy with the field this year.
What is your opinion on the game scheduling?
The scheduling was poor. For instance, my daughter Hasti was supposed to play badminton at midnight, but her match was delayed until 2:30 AM, so she had to withdraw.
Has this scheduling issue occurred before or was it just last night?
I haven’t been closely involved with scheduling in the past.
How would you rate this year’s Martyrs’ Cup compared to previous years?
I’m much happier with this year’s event. For instance, both Kharasheh Hall and the Table Tennis Hall had great ventilation and cooling. However, it would be much better if outdoor matches were scheduled after sunset, since some games were held at 3 PM, and playing under the hot sun is challenging for the young athletes.
Has the condition of the grass field improved since last year?
Definitely—it’s much better now. Last year, players were dissatisfied with the field.
Any final thoughts?
My main concern is about scheduling and team pairings. Opposing teams should be matched by age to avoid large age gaps. For example, my son played basketball yesterday against a much older team, where his opponent was nearly waist-high to him, which isn’t fair. Also, scheduling outdoor matches after 7 PM to avoid heat and sunlight would be ideal.
