Iranian hopefuls looking to end medal drought in Paris
Iranian athletes will be hoping to end the country’s wait for a first medal in the Paris Olympics when they get their campaigns underway in the coming days.
The Iranian saber team came within inches of a historic medal in the fencing event on Wednesday, only to suffer a gut-wrenching, last-ditch defeat against Hungary in the semifinals before a loss to the host in the bronze-medal contest.
Meanwhile, the final outcome was nothing more than expected in the rowing, archery, shooting, swimming, and table tennis competitions for the Iranian participants, who were only hoping to improve their individual records and results rather than eyeing a podium finish.
However, with the wrestling, weightlifting, and taekwondo events – the most productive sports for Iran in the history of the Games – coming in the second week of action, several Iranians will be chasing the coveted prizes in the French capital, not to mention Reza Alipour will fancy his chances in the Tuesday’s speed-climbing contest.
The gold hunt will begin in Grand Palais Éphémère on Monday, as world superheavyweight champion Amin Mirzazadeh will be among the favorite two – alongside Cuban great Mijaín López – to walk away with ultimate prize of the Greco-Roman 130kg contests in the wrestling competitions.
Mahdi Mohsennejad (60kg) will also be in action on Monday, with Amin Kavianinejad (77kg), and Mohammad-Hadi Saravi (97kg) – a bronze winner in Tokyo Olympics – stepping onto the mat a day later, before Saied Esmaeili and Alireza Mohmadi begin their campaigns in the 67kg and 87kg classes respectively a day later.
In taekwondo, Nahid Kiani – a gold medalist in last year’s World Championships – will be looking to become only the second Iranian girl to claim an Olympic medal – following Rio 2016 bronze medalist Kimia Alizadeh – in Thursday’s -57kg event, while Mobina Ne’matzadeh (women’s -49kg), Mehran Barkhrodari (men’s -80kg), and Arian Salimi (men’s 80kg) will also have their shot at Olympic glory.
Thursday’s freestyle wrestling contests will be highly anticipated for Iranian fans, as Hassan Yazdani will kick off his quest to overtake taekwondo great Hadi Saei as the most-decorated Iranian in Olympic history by adding the 86kg crown to his previous gold and silver medals.
Amirhossein Zare’ – a winner of double world golds following his bronze-winning run in Tokyo Games – will be the ultimate favorite to win the 125kg gold after a dominant display in last year’s world event in Belgrade, during which outmuscled familiar foes Taha Akgül and Geno Petriashvili.
Younes Emami (74kg), former world champion Rahman Amouzad (65kg), and Amir-Ali Azarpira (97kg) will be the other three Iranians in the freestyle wrestling.
Iran will only be represented by two weightlifters in Paris, though both will be among the medal contenders in their respective weight classes.
Mirmostafa Javadi will step onto the men’s 89kg stage as the reigning world champion while Ali Davoudi will be eager to add to his superheavyweight silver in Tokyo, though the +109kg class will likely remain Georgian sensation Lasha Talakhadze’s territory.