Already a powerhouse on the international powerlifting circuit, Iran has called up eight powerlifters to its national team to strengthen their campaign at the Indonesia 2018 Asian Para Games this October. At the last Games in Incheon 2014, Iran secured the second place in powerlifting with four gold and four silver medals, finishing below China which finished on top of the medals table with seven gold and two silver medals.
Amir Jafari Arangeh, Seyed Yousef Yousefi Pashaki (up to 65kg), Hamzeh Mohammadi (up to 72kg), Rohallah Rostami, Nader Moradi (up to 80kg), Hamed Solhipour, Saman Razi (up to 97kg) and Mansour Pourmirzaei (over 107kg) were included in the Jakarta-bound squad following their standout performances at the Iran 2018 National Para Powerlifting Competition, that concluded recently.
Joining these eight powerlifters in Jakarta in October will be Rio 2016 champions Siamand Rahman and Majid Farzin, who both missed out the national event due to injuries. Before the Games in Indonesia, the powerlifters will all compete at the 2018 World Para Powerlifting Asia-Oceania Open Championships in Kitakyushu, Japan from September 8-12.
A total of 127 youth and senior male athletes took part in the national powerlifting event that was held between June 24 and 26, in the Iranian capital city of Tehran.
Iran, who has finished fourth in the Incheon Games medals tally with 120 medals behind China (317), South Korea (211) and Japan (143), won two golds and one bronze at Rio 2016 in powerlifting to finish fourth in the medals table for that sport, and claimed three golds, four silvers and one bronze to finish third at the Mexico City 2017 World Para Powerlifting Championships.
Indonesia 2018 will be the third edition of the Asian Para Games after Incheon 2014 and Guangzhou 2010, with around 3,000 athletes expected to compete in 18 sports from October 6-13 in Jakarta.
