Iranian Women Seek More Equal Exercise Opportunities

Roxana Saberi, Channel NewsAsia:

Women in Iran are calling for more equal exercise opportunities to be on par with the Iranian men as well as their counterparts from other countries. READ MORE

A healthy mind is in a healthy body.

That's what Sekin has learned during her years of competing in gymnastics, karate, and now archery.

She said: "A woman who exercises, can think and act much better than someone who doesn't. The spirit gets much healthier too."

Sekin and her seven teammates had travelled from northeast Iran to the country's capital to take part in a nation-wide competition.

They are just a few of the growing number of Iranian women turning to exercise.

For two to three years after Iran's Islamic Revolution of 1979, women could only work out in public places where there were no men.

This was a stark contrast to pre-Revolutionary times when many women and men exercised side by side.

But over the past few years, more and more women have been joining sports teams and gyms.

Some want to get in shape - for health or for their looks.

Indeed, the "hejab" or the Islamic clothing Iranian women are required to wear outside, has gradually been getting shorter and tighter.

Many women athletes in Iran say that although they are thankful for getting more chances to exercise, they want more opportunities equal to those of men - from elementary school to the international level.

Because women and men must exercise separately, they often work out in separate facilities or use them during alternate hours.

Some women say their male counterparts often have better resources and coaches.

Fatemeh Abolghasemi, an advocate of more equal exercise opportunities for women, said: "Because of religious issues, women can't work out wherever they want. They must be places that are covered, such as stadiums and complexes. The women must also wear certain kinds of uniforms for sports like volleyball, basketball, swimming and handball."

When women participate in sports in public places, they wear uniforms that meet "hejab" requirements.

Still, some advocates say Iranian women usually end up competing only against women from other Islamic countries - limiting the diversity of competition that could help them grow.

These advocates also hope government plans to ensure women get exercise opportunities equal to those of men, take shape.

Still, they're thankful for any kind of sport - whether they win trophies and medals or not.

As one athlete puts it, exercise helps women who feel limited in the Islamic Republic gain an even bigger victory: strength in both body and spirit.