This final match was very special for me and the team, says Iranās Kabaddi coach Shailaja Jain
As Iran won the gold medal in the finals of the Women's Kabaddi event, Iran's coach Shailaja Jain has stated that the match was very special for her as well as the team. In a fierce battle between India and Iran, the latter won 27-24, claiming the gold after defeating India in the finals.
With an aim of proving herself the best Kabaddi coach, Shailaja Jain took the assignment of coaching the women's Kabaddi team of Iran. Her efforts, however, resulted in the Iranian team winning the women's Kabaddi event, bagging a gold after a long interval.
Jain, who originally hails from Nashik, in a bid to improve her communication with the team, even learnedĀ Parsi and joined as the coach of Iran women's Kabaddi team eighteen months ago and has been working constantly for their development.
āThis final match was very special for me and the team. After a long time, Iran won a gold. Iām thankful to the FederationĀ for showing faith in me. Communication was not easy, so I learnedĀ Parsi. Before the match, I told the girls ādonāt send me back to India without the gold medalā. Some of them came back and told me āmadam, weāve given you what you wantedā,ā she said.
āWhen I visited Iran first time after taking up the job, I said this is my mission, to prove Iām the best coach. And now we have the result. Today our defence after the first five minutes was very tight, which was crucial to our win. And three of our raiders were excellent,ā she added.
Despite being upset because of her national teamās loss, she said that she has never acted partiallyĀ just because she is an Indian citizen and has given her wholeĀ while mentoring Iran's team. She told that she had to work majorly on the strategies that had to be implemented during the matches.
āIām sad India lost. Like any other Indian, I love my country. But I love kabaddi also. Being their coach, I think only of the Iran team. Kabaddi is very popular in Iran. They all know what kabaddi is about. Everyone watched this match back in Iran,ā she said.
āIn those seven months, they learned the tactics and strategy. I didnāt have to work on their fitness, they already were supremely fit,ā Jain added.