IWF World Championships:
Iranians eyeing Paris berths in Riyadh
Iranian weightlifters will be looking to take a major step toward securing a berth in next year’s Paris Olympics when taking part at the IWF World Championships in Riyadh in the coming days.
The Asian powerhouse is represented by a 10-man squad as well as four female athletes in the Saudi capital.
The competition serves a mandatory event to qualify for the Games in Paris, which will be held across five men’s and women’s categories apiece in August next year.
Replacing high-profile countryman Kianoush Rostami, Mirmostafa Javadi will be the Iranian contestant in the men’s 89kg class – starting Sept. 11.
Javadi, a double world silver winner in 2021, will be hoping to build on the clean & jerk and total Asian bronzes he won in a new weight class in May in pursuit of the Olympic berth.
Reza Dehdar will be joined by fellow Iranian Rasoul Mo’tamedi in the 102kg event – also an Olympic category – with the former among the favorites for a podium finish in Riyadh, having four world medals – including two golds – under his belt.
With Georgian sensation Lasha Talakhadze as well as Armenia’s Varazdat Lalayan and Gor Minasyan of Bahrain all present in the Saudi capital, the +109kg event will be the one to watch.
Ali Davoudi and Ayat Sharifi are the two Iranian superheavyweights at the competitions, with both fancying their chances for glory, though Talakhadze will likely make a clean sweep of triple golds for a sixth year running to add to his double Olympic triumphs.
Having finished second to the Georgian in Tokyo two years ago, Davoudi will be aiming at a second Olympic medal in Paris.
More than 700 weightlifters will competing at the World Championships until September 17.