By Mohammad Ali Haqshenas

Iran will count on its established champions in para athletics, powerlifting and swimming, along with strong contenders in team sports, as it aims to defend its runner-up position at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

With 166 athletes competing in 15 sports, Iran has several strong medal prospects. Experienced international champions will lead the challenge, while developing teams, particularly in women’s sitting volleyball, will look to build on recent progress and secure podium finishes.

Finishing second behind China again would be a major achievement, according to experts. Iran’s overall standing will depend on how well its athletes turn their individual strengths into medals across a demanding programme, with the Games scheduled for October 18-24.

From fourth place to continental runner-up

Iran’s record at the Asian Para Games reflects its steady and remarkable rise among Asia’s leading para-sport countries.

At Guangzhou 2010, the inaugural edition of the Games, Iran won 27 gold, 24 silver and 29 bronze medals, finishing fourth with 80 medals overall. Four years later in Incheon, South Korea, Iran improved its tally to 37 gold, 52 silver and 31 bronze medals but again finished fourth.

Iran broke into the top three at Jakarta 2018, winning 51 gold medals to finish third. Its medal tally was later revised after one bronze medal was upgraded to silver, bringing its overall total to 137 medals.

Iran reached a new milestone at Hangzhou 2022, held in October 2023 after a one-year postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The delegation won 44 gold, 46 silver and 41 bronze medals, finishing second behind China for the first time in the history of the Asian Para Games.

The result considerably raised expectations for Aichi-Nagoya. Iran now has its runner-up position to defend, but the challenge will be considerable, with China and other established para-sport powers, particularly hosts Japan, expected to provide strong competition.

However, the medal table alone will not tell the whole story. Sustaining success, developing emerging talent and expanding opportunities across a wider range of sports are also important measures of Iran’s progress.

Para athletics: Iran’s biggest source of gold

Para athletics is expected to be the backbone of Iran’s medal campaign in this edition of the continental championships.

Historically, it has delivered more gold medals for the country than any other sport at the Asian Para Games, and the 2026 squad includes several athletes with proven success at the continental level.

Yasin Khosravi, who won gold in the men’s shot put at Hangzhou 2022, is among the leading returning competitors. Javelin thrower Saeid Afrooz, also a gold medalist in Hangzhou, is another strong medal prospect.

The squad also includes Mahdi Olad, Alireza Mokhtari and Hajar Safarzadeh, all of whom have won medals at previous Asian Para Games.

Olad has enjoyed particular success in throwing events, while Mokhtari won gold in the discus at Hangzhou 2022. Safarzadeh has also reached the podium at previous editions.

These experienced athletes give Iran a solid foundation, but the team’s strength extends beyond a handful of familiar names. With a large contingent competing across a wide range of track and field events, Iran will have opportunities to build its medal tally throughout the Games.

Iran established an independent para-athletics federation less than a year before the Games. Aichi-Nagoya will therefore serve as an important early test of the new organisation’s ability to support elite athletes and sustain the country’s traditional strengths in the sport.

Para powerlifting: Champions lead the charge

Para powerlifting is another major source of optimism for Iranian sports fans.

The delegation includes several accomplished lifters, among them Aliakbar Gharibshahi and Ahmad Aminzadeh, both of whom won gold at Hangzhou 2022.

Their previous success gives Iran a strong foundation as it looks to add to its medal tally.

Experienced international champion Rouhollah Rostami, who is also one of Iran’s flag-bearers at the Games, brings further experience and prominence to the squad.

The team is coached by Hossein Tavakoli, the Olympic weightlifting champion who won gold at Sydney 2000. His experience at the highest level of competitive weightlifting provides a valuable background for preparing athletes for major international events.

With established medal winners in its ranks, Iran will expect para powerlifting to make a substantial contribution to its overall performance in Japan.

Para swimming: Two generations of success

Swimming offers another compelling storyline, with Shahin Izadyar and Sina Zeyghaminejad representing two generations of Iranian success at the Asian Para Games.

Izadyar enjoyed a remarkable campaign at Jakarta 2018, winning six gold medals in individual events. He followed that performance at Hangzhou 2022 with two silver and three bronze medals, further strengthening his record at the continental level.

Zeyghaminejad emerged as one of Iran’s leading swimmers at Hangzhou 2022, winning three gold medals. His victories included the men’s 100m breaststroke, 100m freestyle and 50m freestyle.

Both swimmers will face strong competition in Aichi-Nagoya, and their medal prospects will depend on their events and the form of their rivals.

Nevertheless, their combined record makes swimming another discipline to watch closely.

Shooting and archery: Experience remains an asset

Sareh Javanmardi is one of the best-known figures in Iranian and international para sport.

A multiple-time international champion, she has built a distinguished career in para shooting and remains one of the delegation’s most prominent athletes.

Javanmardi won silver in the women’s 10m air pistol at Hangzhou 2022. While her recent performances have been inconsistent, her experience at major international competitions makes her an athlete to watch in Aichi-Nagoya.

She will be joined by younger teammate Faezeh Ahmadi, who has also shown medal-winning potential. Her continued progress could be important as Iran looks to balance established experience with emerging talent.

In para archery, Gholamreza Rahimi is another returning competitor with a strong record. He won gold in the men’s individual recurve event at Hangzhou 2022 and was part of Iran’s gold-medal-winning mixed team at Jakarta 2018.

Zahra Nemati, one of Iran’s most celebrated para archers, has moved into coaching and will support the team from the sidelines.

Both sports demand precision and composure under pressure. Iran has experienced competitors capable of challenging for medals, but success will depend on maintaining consistency at the crucial stages of competition.

Para taekwondo: A chance to build on Hangzhou

Iran’s para taekwondo team will aim to build on its previous success with another strong performance in Japan.

Two of the team’s leading competitors are Hamed Haghshenas and Mehdi Pour Rahnama, both gold medalists at Hangzhou 2022. Their past achievements provide grounds for optimism as Iran prepares to face strong competition from its Asian rivals.

The discipline experienced periods of internal disruption in recent years. The team will therefore be looking not only for medals but also for evidence that it can sustain its progress.

A successful campaign would strengthen the team’s confidence and help establish a stable foundation for future international competitions.

Sitting volleyball: Men seek gold, women target a breakthrough

The men’s sitting volleyball team is one of Iran’s strongest contenders for team gold.

With a distinguished international record, the team enters the competition aiming to maintain its position among the sport’s leading teams.

Iran, the reigning world and Paralympic champion, won gold at Hangzhou 2022, further strengthening its reputation as a major force in sitting volleyball.

Veteran player Morteza Mehrzad remains one of the team’s most recognisable figures. The squad will look to combine experience, cohesion and effective teamwork throughout the tournament.

However, a strong track record does not guarantee another title. Iran will need to deliver consistent performances against its leading rivals to defend its position at the top.

The women’s team presents a different but equally important story. Formed later than many of its competitors, the team missed several international opportunities and needed time to close the gap in experience and performance.

Its progress in recent years has provided grounds for optimism. Winning a medal in Aichi-Nagoya would mark a significant milestone, showing that the team’s development is beginning to translate into results at a major continental competition.

Wheelchair basketball: A serious gold-medal challenge

Iran’s men’s wheelchair basketball team is another potential contender for gold. Blending younger players with experienced competitors, the team will aim to repeat its success at Jakarta 2018, when Iran won the tournament.

Host nation Japan will be among the teams challenging for the title, adding another hurdle for Iran in its bid for gold.

The balance between youth and experience could prove valuable. However, Iran will need to show that its players can maintain consistency and respond effectively to the pressure of knockout competition.

The women’s wheelchair basketball team will also represent Iran, adding to the delegation’s participation in a sport that offers opportunities for both individual development and collective achievement.

Other sports offer opportunities and challenges

Iran’s medal prospects are not confined to its leading disciplines. Para judo, goalball and blind football all have histories of success, although their recent performances have been less consistent.

In para judo, Mohammadreza Kheirallahzadeh is a prominent figure. A Paralympic gold medallist, he brings experience and a record of success that could help Iran challenge for the podium.

Goalball has also delivered memorable results for Iran. At Incheon 2014, the country’s men’s and women’s teams won gold and silver medals respectively. Repeating that achievement will be difficult, but the earlier success demonstrates the potential that exists in the sport.

Blind football has a similarly impressive history. Iran reached the final of the Paris Paralympics and won silver after losing to Brazil, but the team has struggled to return to its strongest form. Its campaign in Japan will test whether it can rebuild the consistency needed to challenge the continent’s leading sides.

Para fencing will make its first appearance for Iran at the Asian Para Games, with the team seeking valuable experience against international opposition.

Para cycling and boccia also form part of the delegation, highlighting the breadth of Iran’s participation even where medal expectations are more limited.

For these sports, progress should be assessed not only by the final medal count but also by the experience gained and the foundations established for future competitions.

Chess medals absent from the programme

Chess is a notable omission from the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games programme. Iran enjoyed considerable success in the discipline at Hangzhou 2022, winning four gold, seven silver and four bronze medals, for a total of 15.

The absence of chess from this edition means Iran will lose a previous source of medals as it seeks to retain its runner-up position in the continental standings.

The decision reflects a change in the Games’ sports programme, which now comprises 18 sports, all included in the Paralympic Games programme.

Beyond medals: Sustaining Iran’s progress

Iran’s delegation at the Para Asian Games 2026 faces the challenge of maintaining its competitive standards while developing athletes and teams for the future, amid the difficulties arising from the US-Israeli-imposed war and US sanctions.

The US sanctions have created logistical hurdles for the delegation’s journey to Japan, forcing its members to travel in three stages rather than on a chartered flight.

Meanwhile, the US-Israeli aggression that began on February 28 disrupted training camps and preparations, adding further challenges for athletes ahead of the Games.

Iran’s strongest medal prospects appear to lie in para athletics and powerlifting, backed by experienced swimmers, accomplished shooters and archers, and competitive team sports. However, the final outcome will depend on performances across various disciplines.

Ultimately, the significance of Aichi-Nagoya extends beyond the medal table. The Games will offer an opportunity to assess established champions, identify emerging talent and evaluate how effectively Iran is developing its broader para-sport system.