TEHRAN One of the veteran Iranian female karateka Afsaneh Bagheri said there are noticeable number of women karatekas in Iran, with 13 international women referees. Talking to Tehran Times, she said women who practice karate will grow into human beings capable of changing their environment for the better and remain bright and cheerful. Karate helps women progress physically and mentally, Bagheri said and stressed that karate does not contradict with women's gentle nature.

Bagheri, who began practicing karate since 1972, said at the time I began undergoing training in karate, there were only a few women who practiced karate clandestinely. Today however the number of women karatekas is growing fast in Iran, Bagheri said and added that the first technical committee of martial arts for women was created in 1981, with Bagheri serving as one of the members of the committee.

Bagheri is an international referee and engaged in instructing karate in a number of karate gyms, training many women aged between 9-55 in karate. Bagheri ranked first in the tournament held here in 1975 between Iranian women karatekas and an American gym then active here. She obtained her black belt Dan grade 1 in 1980. Bagheri said love, discipline and respect governing sports environment will attract the youth to spend their leisure in sports gyms.