Hajimousaei stuns Olympic medalist to secure Iran’s fourth gold in Asian Taekwondo C’ships
Iranian taekwondo fighter Mahdi Hajimousaei captured a brilliant gold medal after defeating a multi-time world and Olympic medalist on the third day of the 27th Asian Taekwondo Championships in Mongolia.
Hajimousaei’s victory in the men's under-63kg weight class on Saturday marks the fifth total medal and the fourth gold for the Iranian national team at the continental tournament in Ulaanbaatar.
The Iranian flew through a competitive 24-athlete bracket, starting his campaign with an initial first-round bye. He then posted consecutive 2-0 round victories over Lebanon’s Raphael and China’s Huang to secure a spot in the final four. Hajimousaei subsequently earned his ticket to the championship round by defeating Kazakhstan's Samirkhon Ababakirov in the semifinals.
The final showcased a high-stakes showdown against South Korea's highly decorated star, Jang Jun. Jang entered the mat boasting an illustrious resume that includes a 2024 Olympic bronze medal, a 2023 world championship title, and an Asian Games gold medal.
🥋🥇 Haji Mousaei wins another gold for Iran at Asian Taekwondo Championships
— Press TV Sports (@presstvsports) May 23, 2026
Mehdi Haji Mousaei defeated South Korea's Jun Jang 2-0 in the final of the Asian Taekwondo Championships to continue the Iranian team's golden run.@presstvsports pic.twitter.com/VX8DZdn0pb
Hajimousaei completely dominated the final matchup, using superior pace and precise combinations to handily defeat his South Korean opponent in two straight rounds. The Iranian lightweight sealed the continental crown with convincing scorelines of 16-7 and 11-3.
The champion's gold adds to a perfect tournament run for the Iranian delegation over the past three days.
On the opening day, reigning Olympic champion Arian Salimi clinched gold in the men's heavyweight (+87kg) category, while Yasin Valizadeh added a silver medal in the men's flyweight (-54kg) class.
🥋🥇 Haji Mousaei: "With a broken shin, I worked hard just to bring joy to the people's hearts. I dedicate my Asian Taekwondo Championships gold to the innocent martyrs of Minab school"@presstvsports pic.twitter.com/PknW80LTyc
— Press TV Sports (@presstvsports) May 23, 2026
On Friday, the gold rush continued as world champion Abolfazl Zandi dominated the men's -58kg division, and teammate Amir Sina Bakhtiari captured the men's -74kg title.
The regional tournament kicked off this week, drawing more than 1,300 competitors from 43 countries. Beyond continental glory, athletes in the sparring categories are fighting for high Olympic ranking points and top-seven finishes to qualify for the upcoming Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan.
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