Iran’s Motaqian bags world javelin bronze, secures Paralympic quota
Iranian javelin thrower Hashemiyeh Motaqian will be chasing a second successive Paralympic gold medal after securing a berth in next year’s Games in Paris – courtesy of a bronze medal at the World Para Athletics Championships in the French capital.
Representing the country in the women’s F56 class on Thursday, the 37-year-old Iranian registered a best throw of 22.95m to finish behind Latvian Diana Krumina, who tallied 25.81m for the ultimate prize, and Brazil’s Raíssa Rocha Machado (23.05m).
This was a third world medal for Motaqian following double silvers in 2017 and 2019 and saw her join fellow Iranians Mehdi Olad, Elnaz Darabian, Amir Khosravani, Elham Salehi, Amanollah Papi, Rashid Masjedi, and Alireza Mokhtari in booking their tickets for the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
Olad and Masjedi had walked away with a couple of shot put golds earlier in Paris, while Khosravani settled for a long jump silver.
Olad’s 13.79m throw sealed a second world gold for the Tokyo Olympic champion in the F11 event, with Masjedi topping the F53 table thanks to a successful 8.49m attempt.
Khosravani – also a reigning Paralympic champion – came second in the T12 contest with a 7.26m jump as Uzbekistan’s Doniyor Saliev (7.47m) won a third world gold and Azerbaijani Said Najafzade – bronze winner in Tokyo – finished third with 7.11m.