Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games:
Iran eyes six-medal sweep in weightlifting
All six members of Iran’s weightlifting team “have a chance to win medals” at the upcoming Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, according to federation secretary Vahid Rabiei, who expressed hope that the lifters can reproduce their personal bests to finish on the podium.
The weightlifting competition at the multi-sport event will open on September 23 at the Nagoya City Trade and Industry Centre.
Former world and Olympic silver medalist Ali Davoudi (+110kg) will spearhead the Iranian roster in the men’s event, which also features five-time world medalist Mirmostafa Javadi (85kg), Ali Aalipour (95kg) – a world snatch silver medalist last year – as well as Alireza Nasiri, who will enter the 110kg contest as the world junior record holder in the clean & jerk and total.
Iran will also be represented by teenage sensation Mahsa Beheshti (86kg), who won a remarkable six golds at the Asian Youth & Junior Championships last month, and Reihaneh Karimi (69kg) in the women’s event.
Iran managed just a single silver medal through Davoudi at the previous edition of the Asian Games in Hangzhou, but Rabiei believes the team is in far better shape this time around.
“We failed to achieve the result we wanted in Hangzhou, but the conditions of the athletes are better this time, and we hope we can make up for that result,” he said.
“The competition at the Asian Games is very tough and, in some cases, can even be considered more difficult than the World Championships, because all countries come with the aim of winning medals and Asian Games medals are very important to different countries. Therefore, we have a tough competition ahead of us.”
“All the weightlifters who have been selected for the team have a chance of winning a medal. From the beginning, our discussions with the National Olympic Committee were based on sending a quality-focused team and selecting athletes who had medal chances, which is why we did not send a lifter in the men’s 75kg category.
“Although all the weightlifters are among the favorites in their respective events, they have to compete and we have to see how things develop there,” he said. “We are also constantly monitoring their rivals. Through social media and the information available to us, we are keeping track of their conditions.”
Rabiei was particularly hopeful about Iran’s two female lifters, who will be seeking to make history at the multi-sport event.
“Our girls also have a good chance, and we hope to win a medal in the women’s section at the Asian Games for the first time,” he said.
“Both of Iran’s female weightlifters have medal chances and can be counted on, though, as I said, the competition is very tough in both the men’s and women’s events.
“If it is our weightlifters’ day and they can reproduce their own records, all of them will return from the Asian Games with medals.”