Golden girl Golshadnejad revels in fulfilled mission in Cairo
For Iranian karateka Atousa Golshadnejad, the objective was clear as she headed to Cairo: to capture gold at the World Karate Championships.
That goal was achieved on Sunday, when Golshadnejad secured her place in Iranian sporting history by winning the country’s first-ever women’s gold in 27 editions of the sport’s flagship international event, defeating defending champion Li Gong of China 4-2 in the -61kg showdown.
The victory capped off a glorious international season for the 22-year-old Iranian, who had already captured a second Asian gold medal and a Karate 1-Premier League title earlier this year, before winning the ultimate prize at the Islamic Solidarity Games in mid-November.
“One of my primary goals was always to win gold at the World Championships,” Golshadnejad told IRNA. “I wanted to be a worthy representative for the girls of my country, and now that I have done so, I am overjoyed to have brought this honor to Iranian karate.”
The road to the top of the podium was demanding. “The level of competition was extremely high as every weight class featured the world’s top 32 competitors,” she noted.
Golshadnejad opened her campaign with consecutive wins over Cameroon’s Dzeu Nelly (8-0) and Uzbekistan’s Sevinch Otaboyeva (2-1), then drew with Latvia’s Beata Girvica (0–0) to finish atop the Pool 6 table and advance to the round of 16, where she overcame Chile’s Bárbara Huaiquiman by hantei (decision).
A 5–0 quarterfinal victory over neutral athlete Maryia Azarava of Belarus was followed by a 4-1 semifinal win against Tunisia’s Wafa Mahjoub in a repeat of their Islamic Solidarity Games final.
Reflecting on the final against her accomplished Chinese rival, Golshadnejad said: “I had faced her twice before — one win, one loss. A final always carries its own kind of pressure. I made a couple of early errors and gave up two points. Then I realized I couldn’t just wait for her to slip up. I had to take the initiative. With crucial guidance from the head coach, I adjusted my approach, scored four straight points, and closed out the win.”
That decisive voice in her corner belongs to Pegah Zangeh, a former Asian champion who also serves as Golshadnejad’s personal mentor and trainer. Their partnership has fueled the Iranian athlete’s trophy-laden rise.
“We have complete, mutual trust,” Golshadnejad explained. “She is like an older sister to me. Even when I was behind in the final, her faith and her words gave me tremendous motivation to turn things around. I’m glad I could finally repay all her dedication and effort.”
Behind the champion’s determined composure on the tatami lies a deep story of family sacrifice.
“This gold belongs to my parents, especially my father,” she said. “For 12years, every single day, he drove me kilometers to the training hall, waited for hours until practice ended, and drove me home again. He always told me, ‘You will become a world champion one day.’ Now I’ve finally reached the day he envisioned. I truly owe this medal to him.”
Even so, Golshadnejad is conscious of the “great responsibility” that comes with her newfound status as the ‘golden girl of Iranian karate.’
“I don’t fixate on titles or labels. My focus is straightforward: to be a proper representative for my country and for all Iranian girls,” she stated. “Iran’s female karatekas have created so many proud moments in recent years, bringing genuine joy to the nation. We have been fortunate to serve as worthy representatives.”
At such a young age, Golshadnejad’s trophy cabinet already boasts the sport’s most prestigious golds at the World and Asian Championships, as well as the Islamic Solidarity Games, with the Asian Games crown remaining the missing piece of glory in her career – one that could be achieved at Aichi–Nagoya 2026.
“I move forward step by step, with a plan,” she said. “Our immediate focus is the Asian Championships. I must succeed there first, and then I will shift my full attention to the Asian Games.”
In Golshadnejad, Iran has found more than a champion; it has found an icon of perseverance, a testament to familial love, and a humble yet powerful voice for a generation of girls dreaming of their own golden moments on the world stage.