Iran targets 17 athletics golds at Asian Para Games
Iran is targeting 17 gold medals in athletics at the upcoming Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games, despite sending a smaller squad than at the previous edition due to the merger of classification classes, according to the country’s chief de mission.
Ali-Asghar Hadizadeh said Iran will send 45 athletes to the multi-sport event, which will open on Oct. 18, including 20 women, with the number of competitors reduced compared with the previous edition following the consolidation of classes.
“Despite this, we are predicting 17 gold medals at this edition,” Hadizadeh told ISNA.
He also highlighted the increased representation of women in Iran’s athletics delegation, saying the team had sought to combine medal ambitions with the development of women’s athletics.
“Although the National Paralympic Committee’s policy for this edition is to focus on quality and achieve the best possible results, we have also prioritized the development of the sport among women alongside winning medals,” he said.
Iran bagged 51 athletics medals, including 17 golds, at the previous edition of the Games in Hangzhou, China.