Iran eyeing strong performance at Asian Gymnastics Championships
Iran’s men’s artistic gymnastics head coach, Reza Kheirkhah, has emphasized the importance of a strong performance at the AGU Asian Championships in June.
The 13th edition of the competition, which will kick off in Zunyi, China, on June 18, will also serve as a qualification path for the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games in September.
“Previously, all countries could participate in the Asian Games without restrictions. However, a decision by the Asian Gymnastics Union now means only the top 10 teams on the continent will earn berths for the showpiece in Japan – a change that has doubled the importance of precise planning and preparation for the event in China,” Kheirkhah told IRNA.
“The squad’s first two training camps were held before the Persian New Year holidays (late March). The first camp lasted 14 days and featured 17 gymnasts, offering high-quality training.
“A selection round was then held, and several athletes were cut. The second camp took place in Semnan, where a selection round was held at the start to boost motivation and ensure athletes entered training with greater readiness,” added the Iranian coach.
Referring to the country’s recent difficult circumstances, Kheirkhah explained, “Due to the wartime conditions, many gyms were closed for a while, and athletes were away from training for about one to two months. That is why we decided to invite 14 gymnasts to the new camp in Gonbad, where the focus will be on regaining fitness rather than holding a selection round.”
He continued, “Under such conditions, you cannot expect a selection performance from an athlete who has been away from training for some time. We will try to hold a selection round at the next camp and finalize the squad for the China competition. We also plan to reduce the number of athletes to improve training quality and individual attention.”
The latest national team camp began on Saturday, with Mahdi Ahmad Kohani, Mahdi Olfati, Mohammadreza Khosronejad, Abolfazl Nikkhah, Ali-Asghar Asadi, Ali Asadi, Amirmohammad Qorbani, Siavash Siahi, Arman Khodaei, Hooman Jafari, Amirmohammad Rahmani, Amirabbas Mojahed, and Mohammadreza Hamidi taking part in training.