TEHRAN The 18th Zoroastrian Martyrs' Cup inaugurated here on Monday aiming at creating friendship, unity and goodwill among Zoroastrian youths. A number of 116 Zoroastrian athletes from different sports clubs will compete in the 5-day league. The Association of Zoroastrian University Students sponsors the cup which is held in 6 different sports of soccer, basketball, table tennis, badminton, chess and cycling, Secretary of the Association, Rostam Shirmardian said in his opening speech.

The athletes are from seven Iranian cities of Tehran, Yazd, Kerman, Ahvaz, Karaj, Zahedan, Isfahan and Shiraz, he added. Zoroastrian martyrs since the time of Prophet Zoroaster are commemorated in two great religious ceremonies every year, the great moobed (Zoroastrian priest), Rostam Shahzadi said. Shahzadi, the father of a martyr, also stressed on the necessity of sports for youths to make them prepared for defending their land at the time of necessity as it was a compulsory custom for youths living at the time of Sassanid era to have exercises in the morning.

The torchbearer of the cup, Shahriar Nejadkay, holder of the third title of 17th cup's cycling contests, is the son of a Zoroastrian martyr. Zoroastrian community has dedicated some 14 martyrs, all educated, during the 8-year Iraqi imposed war. About 120,000 Zoroastrians are living in Iran.