Katayoon continues to inspire women around the world
Writer: Tom Collings - Inaugural Foundation award winner and member of WPA academy Katayoon Ashraf was bestowed with the honour of presenting Martin Dreyer with the Foundation Award at the World Paddle Awards Ceremony near Barcelona earlier this month.
Katayoon has inspired a whole generation of female paddlers. Ensuring that they are equipped with vital skills both on and off the water and was happy to return to the World Paddle Awards this year.
“I am very happy and excited as this is a very good opportunity to see people who have common ideas and it’s great to see them again and this will motivate me to work more,” Katayoon said.
She was very proud to present Martin Dreyer with the Foundation Award as she is appreciative of the work he has done in helping people with nothing and giving them an opportunity to paddle.
“It is so wonderful because there are not so many people in the world that care about others and do it only for humanity and Martin is one of them and I am happy to give him this award,” Katayoon said.
“I am very proud because he did very big things in South Africa and he did very many good things for his people and I am sure that in the future we will see many wonderful people, athletes that work with him and I know he wants to make a change in their everyday life and they will have a better life.”
Since winning the inaugural Foundation award last year, Katayoon has continued to inspire women from around the world to take up paddlesports through her Expand and Extend program.
“I am happy to say that it is going very well. I was not alone in that project and it is good that people who were working with me are very serious to continue it and in my country they are taking it very serious for women.”
“Now there are many young girls who have joined us and I hope in the future we will have more and more women.”
Katayoon recently returned from Pau where she spent time helping Iran prepare for the Olympic qualification process in Asia.
“It was a wonderful trip for us because we saw wonderful people like Tony Estanguet,” Katayoon said.
“My athletes learnt a lot from him when he was with our team and he had good words for my team and I think they are very motivated now.”
2016 shapes as another big year for Katayoon with her daughter Roxana looking to secure a place in the Iran canoe slalom team in Rio.
“I hope (she can make the team) because she is training very hard and I know she will do her best but who knows, but if it happens it will be so good for my country, if not I am sure she will transfer her experience to other athletes and we will have a good future.”