Zebunisso Rustamova is one of the legends of the Tajik sports; under all her titles and regalia - absolute world champion in archery, Olympiad prize-winner, Merited Master of sports of the USSR - she remains simple and accessible. Many people from different countries fell in love with her; both men and women. Journalists treasured greatly her friendship, she is a very interesting interlocutor knowledgeable for various themes. And today we address her the questions of our female readers who are fond of our page - "She - Friend".
She loves her native Tajikistan with all her heart and soul. Many times she was invited to Uzbekistan and Russia, she was offered a flat, highly-paid job, but she refused point-blank. I remember her indignation with her acquaintances' rebukes. "Why should I abandon Tajikistan in its difficult time? It's immoral. The Tajik people gave me wings for a high flight, I rose to the top stairs of pedestal in sports. I consider it to be my civil duty to help in its further development".
- Have You returned to sports again?
- But I never deserted it. simply, some period of time, I was engaged in social activity, but it was associated with sports too. I am a partner of "Counterpart International" and also a leaderess of the non-governmental organization "Women and Children Support Center"; my work is beset with frequent business trips. Apart from it I coach 12 boys and girls.
- You are a passionate adherent of mercy. And many people know that as far as Your availabilities afford, You try to render aid to the homes for the aged people and invalids all over the viloyat through aged people organizations. You help even such center as "Zulol" enjoying good sponsors.
- Yes, I do. "Zulol" expands its tutelage over all necessitous people irrespective of their former places of work. It appoints itself in charge of funerals when somebody dies in indigent families, "Zulol" incurs the expenses. Moreover, I want to help every old individual, display considerateness. Old age will catch up with all of us and we can expect respect for ourselves from the young if we behaved so in reference to elders in our youth.
- Today suicides have frequented among young people. How can it be stopped, to Your mind?
I am sure, we are to search for reasons, for the roots of each concrete incident. If a person has a job, if faith in future doesn't desert him/her, he/she will never have committed suicide. The main thing is esteem, people should respect one another. You ought never to humiliate anyone only because he/she is inferior to you. To be powerful doesn't mean to disparage the weak. That one is strong who can lift the weak up to his/her standard. Some people think they have a right to slight others if they themselves are well-to-do. One may do it. If a Person has no good clothes, footwear, bread, he/she shouldn't be made a laughing stock because of it, you mustn't rebuke him/her, but try to help. Sports are ones of effective ways of combat against narcomania, AIDS, suicides, all sorts of crimes. The issues connected with sports should be brought in the foreground, they must be solved on a high governmental level. It is paradoxical that the lessons of physical culture are looked upon as being of secondary importance. After all, nations health is state's benefit.
-You were invited to Iran to work as a coach. What Are Your Impression from this country?
- I was working there for a month in 2000. After the end of my work Iranians proposed to conclude a new contract. But the sum they offered was too small, they seem to think that we, Tajiks, are ready to work for any money. I didn't agree and returned home. Iran, especially its capital Tehran, impressed me favorably. There sports acquired a universal character, all at a running go in for it, both the old and the young. The Olympic complex is one of the hugest sports erections in the world. According to Shariat laws men and women take sports separately and respectively, all sports grounds are built in isolated manner. Women's swimming-pools are very nice, equipped with all facilities. By the way, swimming is obligatory in Iran for all - both men and women.
The other day Zebuniso goes on invitation to Tokyo where they assemble the prize - winners of all Olympic Games, she will represent Tajikistan. The nation of patriotism and internationalism are equally dear and sacred for Zebuniso Rustamova. "First of all, we are human beings, - she says, - and we must live in friendship and mutual understanding with all neighboring countries". In the some spirit she brings up her sons, Dilovar and Dilshod. She exercises a lot of efforts for consolidation of friendship and good neighborly relation with bordering states. The summer international camp organized recently on her initiative united school-children from four countries of Central Asia. Over two weeks teenagers were living under one roof conceiving the advantages of friendship and good neighborliness.