Mammadov to decide Iran’s final judo lineup for Asian Games: Miresmaeili
Iranian Judo Federation president Arash Miresmaeili said the country has been allocated six quota places for September’s Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, though Azerbaijani head coach Rashad Mammadov will make the final decision on who will represent Iran at the multi-sport event.
“Following consultations with the Ministry of Sports and Youth, Iran was allocated three men’s and three women’s places for the Asian Games,” Miresmaeili said on Friday.The federation chief stressed, however, that Mammadov would have the final say on team selection, with medal prospects taking priority over filling the available quota.
“We want to contribute to Iran’s medal tally at the Asian Games, so we will not send any judoka who does not have a realistic chance of winning a medal,” Miresmaeili said. “We will carefully assess each athlete’s form, and there is no obligation for us to use all six quota places.”
Miresmaeili pointed to Mammadov’s selection policy for last year’s Islamic Solidarity Games as an example of the coach’s uncompromising approach. Although Iran had secured eight quota places – five for men and three for women – the Azerbaijani opted to name a five-member squad consisting of three men and two women.
“Mammadov is a truly demanding coach,” Miresmaeili said. “Even now, he has reservations about including Pouria Banaeian in the squad for the Asian Junior Championships in July, despite him being a member of both the senior and junior national teams.” Iran last won medals in judo at the Asian Games in Jakarta-Palembang 2018, where Saied Mollaei claimed silver and Ali Pakdaman took bronze in the men’s competition. The country’s only Asian Games judo gold came at Busan 2002, when Masoud Haji-Akhoundzadeh won the men’s 60kg title.