Moeini targets world, Asian Games success in 2026
Iranian weightlifter Alireza Moeini says he is targeting a landmark year in his career as he sets his sights on gold at both the World Championships and the Asian Games in the upcoming international season.
The 23-year-old enjoyed a strong run of results over the past 12 months, highlighted by a record-breaking performance at October’s World Championships in Førde, Norway.
Moeini lifted 182kg to win snatch gold in the men’s 94kg category, setting a new world record in the process. He then added total silver with an aggregate of 391kg, finishing four kilograms behind Bulgarian Olympic champion Karlos Nasar, who claimed clean and jerk gold.
Earlier in the year, Moeini secured snatch gold and total bronze at the Asian Championships in Jiangshan, China, before collecting two silver medals and a clean and jerk bronze at November’s Islamic Solidarity Games.
“2025 was the best year of my career after I won gold at the World Championships and set a new world record,” Moeini told ISNA. “I know expectations are higher now. My main goal for 2026 is to win gold at the Asian Games in September.
“Then there are the World Championships in October, which will be the first Olympic qualifying event. I want to perform strongly there and begin my Olympic qualification campaign in the best possible way, with the ultimate aim of competing at the Los Angeles Olympics.”
To earn a spot at the Aichi–Nagoya Asian Games, Moeini faces stiff competition from fellow Iranian Ali Alipour, with only one athlete set to represent the country at the multi-sport event.
The pair were locked in a close domestic rivalry last season. Alipour won clean and jerk and total gold at the Asian Championships but finished runner-up to Moeini in the snatch at both Asian and world events.
“Ali and I are longtime friends,” Moeini said. “Whoever is selected for the Asian Games will have one goal: to raise Iran’s flag and win gold. We will both give our utmost to achieve the best possible result in Japan.”
Moeini acknowledged he must further improve his clean and jerk to challenge Nasar’s dominance at the next World Championships, though he believes his progress in the lift has been overshadowed by his snatch success.
“My clean and jerk has improved compared to the 2024 World Championships,” he said. “The coaching staff has placed more emphasis on that lift, and I’ve made significant progress. But because my snatch numbers are so high, my clean and jerk improvements often go unnoticed.”
He added that adjustments to training methods have been made with the Asian Games firmly in mind.
“This young team became world champions after eight years, and the coaches believe we can succeed at the Asian Games and the Olympics as well,” Moeini said.
“The 2026 World Championships will be among the toughest in recent years, as all lifters will be fighting for Olympic quotas. Everyone will give 100 percent, and I will be no exception. My goal is to finish on top, win a prestigious medal and secure Olympic qualification.
“There is only a one-month gap between the World Championships and the Asian Games, which makes it extremely challenging to compete at two major events in such a short period. Still, we will prepare to deliver the best possible results in both.”
Reflecting on life after winning world medals and breaking the snatch world record, Moeini said success has brought both pride and pressure.
“It feels great to live the life of a champion, but it is also demanding because expectations rise and you are no longer seen as an ordinary person,” he said.
“At the same time, it pushes you to dedicate yourself even more, knowing you must defend your title the following year. That motivation helps drive you toward the ultimate goal, which is the Olympics.”