Iranians eyeing glory at Asian Youth Para Games
Iranian athletes will set their sights on another medal-laden campaign as the Asian Youth Para Games kick off in Dubai today.
Named “Children of Iran, Ambassadors of Victory,” the Iranian delegation will feature 194 athletes, including 74 female competitors, at the fifth edition of the multi-sport event.
Iranians will compete in 11 disciplines: para athletics, para archery, para badminton, boccia, goalball, para powerlifting, para swimming, para table tennis, para taekwondo, and 3x3 wheelchair basketball.
The National Paralympic Committee – recognized as the leading organization in the development of women’s Paralympic sports – has placed special emphasis on female participation at this event. With the exception of swimming, the delegation includes female athletes across all other 10 disciplines.
“Our effort is to maximize the participation of our female athletes and facilitate their attendance at the Games. In line with the National Paralympic Committee’s new vision, which emphasizes a strong presence of girls and women in sporting events as cultural ambassadors, we have placed special focus on this area,” said Maryam Kazemipour, Iran’s chef de mission in Dubai.
“We will have female representation in 10 disciplines, with a higher number of girls in some events and an equal number in others,” added the official, who noted that Iranian competitors at the Games are aged between 12 and 24.
Iran has participated in all four previous editions of the Asian Youth Para Games, finishing runner-up in the first three – Tokyo 2009, Kuala Lumpur 2013, and Dubai 2017 – before claiming the top spot in Manama 2021.
Across these four editions, Iran has collected 144 gold, 139 silver, and 107 bronze medals.