Olad targets two golds at Asian Para Games
Iran’s Mahdi Olad says he is targeting two gold medals in the shot put and discus throw at the upcoming Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games, which start on Oct. 18, as he prepares to make his third appearance at the continental multi-sport event.
“Last year, our training conditions were normal, but this year, our preparation was somewhat disrupted due to the wartime circumstances in the country,” Olad, a Tokyo 2020 Paralympic shot put gold medalist who also won two silver medals at Paris 2024, told Mehr News Agency.
He said the national team resumed training in late April despite the difficult circumstances and has since held three extended training camps.
“I have reached around 70 to 80 percent of the required level of readiness for the Asian Para Games,” Olad said. “I am following my training program in a way that will allow me to reach full readiness by the time we travel to Nagoya.”
Olad recalled his performances at the previous two editions of the Para Asian Games, saying he won gold in both the shot put and discus at the 2018 Games in Indonesia.
He entered the Hangzhou 2022 Games aiming to repeat that feat but suffered an ankle fracture during the shot put competition, preventing him from defending his title and forcing him to settle for silver.
“Doctors would not allow me to continue competing, but I competed in the discus three days later with the same broken leg and despite the pain, and I won gold,” he said.
With three golds and one silver to his name from his two previous Asian Para Games appearances, Olad is determined to return to the top of the podium in both events in Nagoya.
“I will compete in the shot put and discus again, with the hope of repeating the two gold medals I won in Indonesia,” he said. “I am training with exactly that goal in mind. I say from now that the two para-athletics gold medals in Nagoya will have my name on them.”
Olad, who competes in the F11 classification, also said he had avoided problems arising from the merging of classifications and had therefore been able to focus more calmly on his preparations.
“I am determined to win two gold medals in Nagoya and then continue my training with greater motivation and determination to secure a place at the Paralympic Games,” he said.