The Golden Girl of Iran

When she was seventh grade in Birjand she saw an announcement for a shooting competition on the school notice board, and decided to take part in the competition. It was then that she saw herself as the provincial champion and national students champion.
Her mother was a shooting coach and it could be a good excuse for her to start her activity with seriousness and continue. She registered for competition after participating in the free shooting competitions in Azadi Stadium, she was invited to join the national youth team. Najmeh took part in all trainings and camps that were held with all her heart and soul, but she also faced some difficulties. Her parents were from the middle class and all her transportation, equipment and camping costs were covered by her father, and the sports authorities did not provide any assistance. She was upset that she was a heavy burden on her dad’s shoulders and was slightly put off from taking part in competitions. But her family’s support caused her to not give up her practices.
The first time she took part in international competitions was for the Asian championship in China and she won gold medal.
After that she wasready for the youth Olympics, and she took part in Nanchang. But because her air rifle arrived late, because Qatar Airways failed to deliver her rifles on time, Sarah Hornang from Switzerland became youth Olympics champion. Najmeh managed a fourth place in the competition.
But in the South Korean Universiade games she managed to win gold for the Iranian team. The peak of her performance was in the Incheon Asian Games where she received a gold medal.
After that, while she was not in the youth national team, and she wasn’t meant to go the Asian games, she told the national team coach, Laslow Sochek that she was willing to be present as a substitute in the games, paying her own expenses; however they held a qualification competition for her and she was able to travel as a main member of the Iranian team.
After failures in the selection completion for the 2016 South Korea Olympics, the team’s trip to the United States was cancelled due to what the Federation said financial problems.
Najmeh believed not going to America was bad for the Iranian team, because the competitors were lower in level and the shooters who got places for the Rio Olympics qualified with lower records.
But the qualification games were coming to an end the Iranian girls did not want to lose the dream of taking part in the Rio Olympics. The world cup in Azerbaijan was their last chance, and with a bronze medal Najmeh booked herself a place in the Rio Olympics. She will be twenty years old in this summer’s Olympics.
Najmeh’s excellence at the world and continental levels resulted for her to receive a Walther rifle as birthday present from the German company, which she treasured.
List of her honours:
1 – Having the experience in participation in the youth Olympics
2 – Participation in the Asian Games
3 – Participation in the Universiade games
4 – Gold medal in air rifle 10 meter shooting for women in Incheon 2014
Najmeh Khedmati believes she has no technical problems. The only difference that she feels between herself and her competitors is the mental conditions. She doesn’t feel camps outside the country are necessary, as long as she has enough ammunition for her practice, because athletes go to most of these camps to get ammunition

Sanaz Moazezi
International Law M.S.