Reyhaneh Karimi makes history with Iran’s first women’s weightlifting medal at Asian Games
Reyhaneh Karimi made history by winning Iran’s first-ever women’s weightlifting medal at the 2026 Asian Games, taking bronze in the 77kg category in Nagoya.
Karimi finished with a total of 243kg on Sunday. China’s He Renxiao won gold with 258kg, while Kazakhstan’s Ainagat Zhumagali took silver with 246kg.
The Iranian lifter opened the snatch with an unsuccessful attempt at 103kg. She recovered on her second attempt, successfully lifting 103kg before raising the bar to 107kg on her third.
🏋️Iran women’s weightlifting coach Hosseini praised Reyhaneh Karimi’s historic bronze medal at the Nagoya Asian Games, saying the young lifter worked extremely hard and deserved to win silver.@presstvsports pic.twitter.com/tPeRWowM8i
— Press TV Sports (@presstvsports) September 27, 2026
Karimi then lifted 131kg and 136kg in her first two clean-and-jerk attempts. She was unable to complete her final attempt at 140kg, but her overall total was enough to secure bronze.
The medal marked a landmark achievement for Iranian women’s weightlifting at the Asian Games. Karimi also lifted 26kg more than her previous best total.
After her historic performance, Karimi said she was delighted to make history.
“I am really happy that I was able to become the first female weightlifter to win an Asian Games medal for Iran,” she said, adding that she owed much of her success to her coaches and Weightlifting Federation officials.
The Mashhad-born lifter also thanked her parents for standing behind her throughout her career.
Karimi dedicated her medal to Imam Reza, the eighth Shia Imam whose shrine in Mashhad is one of Iran’s most important religious sites.
“I dedicate my medal to Imam Reza. I thank God very much; whatever I have is from God,” Karimi said.
She also thanked the Iranian public and promised to pursue further success.
“I am happy that I did not disappoint the people, and I promise that in the future I will make everyone happy with better and more colorful medals,” she said.
🏋️ Reyhaneh Karimi made history at the 2026 Nagoya Asian Games, winning bronze in the women’s 77kg weightlifting category with a combined lift of 243kg.
— Press TV Sports (@presstvsports) September 27, 2026
Her medal marks the first-ever Asian Games weightlifting medal for Iranian women, a historic feat for Iran.@presstvsports pic.twitter.com/0x0axgtgqy
Iran now ranks 8th in the medals table with a haul of seven gold, 14 silver, and eight bronze medals.
The Aichi-Nagoya Games are being held from September 19 to October 4 across venues in Japan, with around 17,000 athletes and officials from 45 countries and regions competing in 43 sports.
Iran's delegation, named “Minab Angels”—a tribute to the victims of the US-Israeli attack on Shajareh Tayyebe Elementary School in Minab on February 28—is competing at the Games with 305 athletes across 38 sports.
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