Iranian taekwondo athletes Abolfazl Zandi and Arian Salimi won gold medals at the 2026 World Taekwondo Grand Prix in Paris on Friday, overcoming several top international contenders to claim victory in their respective weight categories.

The third and final leg of the 2026 World Taekwondo Grand Prix Series before the season-ending Grand Prix Final is being held in Levallois-Perret, near Paris, from Oct. 9-11.

The G-6 event features 253 registered competitors and awards ranking points toward the Olympic qualification cycle for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Zandi claimed the men’s 58-kilogram title after a series of convincing performances. He opened his campaign with a two-round victory over compatriot Mehdi Razmian, winning 6-0 and 12-3.

Razmian had advanced by defeating Brazil’s Gabriel Ramos 12-1 and 8-1.

Zandi then beat Nigeria’s Nurdin Isaka 14-7 and 13-7 in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, he took the first round 21-2 against Spain’s Jesus Rodriguez before his opponent withdrew, sending the Iranian into the final.

There, Zandi faced South Korea’s Park Tae-joon, 2024 Paris Olympics gold medalist. The Iranian won both rounds, 7-4 and 11-6, to secure the gold medal.

In the men’s over-80kg division, Salimi, the reigning Olympic champion, also produced an impressive run to the top of the podium.

He began with a close victory over Iranian teammate Mohammad Hossein Yazdani, winning 8-7 and 18-12. Salimi then dominated Uzbekistan’s Marat Mavlonov, taking both rounds 16-0.

The Iranian continued his strong form in the quarterfinals, defeating Belarus’ Artyom Plon­s 14-4 and 11-0.

His semifinal presented a tougher challenge against Egypt’s Seif Eissa, a former Olympic bronze medalist and world No. 1. Salimi prevailed 10-6 and 11-3 to reach the final.

The gold-medal bout was a rematch of the Paris 2024 Olympic final against Great Britain’s Caden Cunningham. Salimi lost the opening round 14-9 but rallied to win the next two 13-6 and 11-7, sealing another victory over Cunningham and adding the Grand Prix title to his Olympic success.

Days earlier, Salimi had snatched the gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya.