Iran to compete in double IJF Grand Slam events in May
A three-man Iranian squad will take part in two upcoming IJF Grand Slam tournaments in Dushanbe and Astana, the Iranian Judo Federation confirmed.
The third Grand Slam event of the international judo season will kick off in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on May 1, followed by a three-day competition in Astana, Kazakhstan, from May 8 to 10.
A gold medalist at the Casablanca African Open in January, Elyas Parhizgar will compete in the -81kg weight class across both tournaments. Amirabbas Choopan – bronze medalist at February’s Tunis African Open – will vie for glory in the -90kg division.
Iranian prodigy Mohammad-Pouria Banaeian, who claimed an impressive junior gold medal in the Tunisian capital, will look to build on that success when competing in the +100kg contests.
The two tournaments will serve as a significant part of Iran’s preparation for the Aichi–Nagoya 2026 Asian Games in September, after the country missed out on April’s Asian Championships in Ordos City, China, as a result of the military conflict with the United States and Israel.