Borhani A Role Model for Iranian Female Athletes
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Maedeh Borhani’s journey has been long but rewarding, pursuing a career in sport at a time when dreams of winning international competitions were only dreams, and carving a niche of her own in Iranian volleyball.
“Everyone knows that I am a fighter on the court, but outside of it, I have a sense of humor. I am energetic, cool and cheerful. I am also very responsible, hardworking and honest,” Borhani told FIVB.com.
“In sport, if you want to be a winner, you should work hard, fight and focus on your targets. It is important to improve yourself first rather than focus on the outcome of the match. You have to study the winners and see how they win a match, while also respecting the losers for the efforts they put into the game.
“I think I have made a lot of progress. I gained more confidence, experience and responsibility as a captain. Volleyball has given me confidence. I have experienced both winning and losing. I have raised my mental and physical abilities, which has made me a more powerful player. Now I am a good role model for my family and friends.”
Borhani made her debut with the national team when she was only 18 years old. Now 32, she has found long-term success in volleyball, but not only that, she has also increased her role in empowering younger Iranian women to participate in the sport.
Borhani was a late bloomer in the sport, picking up volleyball as a 16-year-old after playing a different sport in her childhood for many years.
“I became interested in sport for the first time when the Iranian football team made it to the FIFA World Cup in 1998. I was 10 at that time. All Iranians followed that tournament and I became a big fan of Ahmadreza Abedzadeh, who was a famous goalkeeper and captain.
“I was so active and crazy about football, but we didn’t have football in my school in my hometown Isfahan. So, I chose volleyball which was my family’s sport. I got into volleyball when I was 16.”
Her power on the attack immediately made her a force in Iran’s women’s volleyball. She has grown into a high-scoring player in continental tournaments, which has provided her with an opportunity to show off her skills to overseas club leagues.
“These are ground-breaking experiences for an Iranian female athlete because I was able to share new things when I played with the national team. It was a good challenge but also very important for any athlete to be exposed in bigger competitions like this to learn from other players.”
As team captain, Borhani leads and helps her team chase their dreams at the continental and world level.
“I hope we can be among the top four teams in Asia. As a player I would like to go to the World Championships or the Olympic Games and get a medal at the Asian Championship. If I can become a coach, I would like to be one of the best coaches in the world like Lang Ping,” she concluded.
