Iran surges ahead in Islamic Solidarity Games as taekwondo stars deliver powerful opening statement
Iran’s national taekwondo contingent has delivered a commanding performance at the Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh.
On the first day of taekwondo competitions on Saturday, Saina Karimi electrified the arena with a flawless series of victories that culminated in the country’s first gold medal of the games.
Her triumph, achieved through decisive wins over Kazakhstan, Turkey’s reigning world champion Emine Gogebakan, and Niger’s Marima Zekri, set the tone for an Iranian squad determined to fight above its weight.
Karimi’s final challenge came against Azerbaijan’s Miyana Akbarova, a match she controlled from start to finish, winning back-to-back rounds to claim the gold and assert the Islamic Republic’s presence at the top tier of women’s taekwondo.
Iranian fighters across the board showed grit and tactical brilliance.
In the men’s –74 kg category, Ali Khoshravesh carved out a bronze medal after dispatching Bahrain’s Mohammad al-Houthi and then regrouping following a narrow loss to Uzbekistan’s world champion Najmiddin Khodjiev. His bronze-medal bout against Azerbaijan’s Javad Aghayev was a showcase of creativity and resilience, earning applause from the crowd and praise from coaches.
In the women’s –57 kg class, Hasti Mohammadi added another bronze after defeating Kyrgyzstan’s Komorzova and later overpowering Uzbekistan’s Madeniya Mira Badouzlova in a must-win repechage duel. Her resilience ensured Iran maintained momentum on a day of tight matches.
While Amir-Mohammad Nasir-Ahmadi faced an early exit in the –54 kg bracket, his effort contributed to the collective push that ultimately carried the Iranian delegation up the overall rankings.
By the end of the eighth day of the games, Iranian athletes across all disciplines had amassed 11 gold, 12 silver, and 19 bronze medals, an achievement that elevated the nation from fourth to third place on the medal table.
Iran strikes gold in futsal and women’s karate at Islamic Solidarity Gameshttps://t.co/DJeH3bQJd5
— Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) November 12, 2025
With Turkey and Uzbekistan currently holding the top spots, Iran’s surge places it firmly within striking distance as the competition enters its decisive days.
Iran’s Zandi crowned Under-21 Taekwondo World Champion, his second global gold in 35 days
Rights experts demand UEFA member associations boycott Israeli football
Palestine stun hosts Qatar in FIFA Arab Cup opener
Threatening Iraq's sovereignty, US opens world’s largest consulate in Erbil
US Navy struck by Yemen: USS Truman disasters expose combat strain
Putin, Modi sign landmark deals to cement strategic partnership
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
IRGC Navy launches ballistic, cruise missile during major drill
China deploys largest naval force yet amid Japan’s buildup near Taiwan
Netanyahu begs Trump for ‘more’ help for pardon amid corruption case
Yasser Abu Shabab’s destiny is inevitable fate of every traitor: Hamas
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
