On the eve of International Women’s Day, March 8, the National Paralympic Committee of Iran was named the 2025 Committee of the Year by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).
According to the Public Relations Department of the Veterans and Disabled Sports Federation and as reported by the National Paralympic Committee and the official IPC website, Iran was selected as the 2025 Member of the Year in Women’s Sports Development among other IPC member National Paralympic Committees during the IPC’s International Women’s Day Awards ceremony.
This award is presented annually by the IPC on March 8, International Women’s Day, in various categories. The IPC recognizes leadership, impact, and meaningful changes made by its members—including National Paralympic Committees, International Federations, International Organizations for Sports for the Visually Impaired, and Regional Organizations—in promoting and supporting gender equality and inclusive participation of women in sports. This year, the National Paralympic Committee of Iran was honored with this prestigious award.
The IPC website reported:
“Since its establishment in 2000, the National Paralympic Committee of Iran has placed women at the heart of its strategic planning and decision-making processes, focusing on increasing women’s participation in national and international competitions, leadership roles, and educational programs.
Iranian women made their Paralympic debut at the 1992 Barcelona Games, where four female athletes competed in table tennis (though they did not win any medals). At the 2024 Paris Paralympics, the number of Iranian female athletes increased to 12 across five sports, winning seven medals—a 33.3% increase in participation.
A similar upward trend is evident in the Asian Para Games. At the inaugural edition in Guangzhou 2010, Iran sent 34 female athletes across seven sports, winning 17 medals. By the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Para Games, this number had risen to 82 female athletes in 13 sports, securing 40 medals—a 42% increase in participation.
Currently, over 60,000 athletes are supported by the National Paralympic Committee of Iran in grassroots sports, with more than one-third being women.
Prominent Iranian Paralympic athletes who have inspired many women include Sara Javanmardi, a four-time Paralympic gold medalist, and Zahra Nemati, a three-time Paralympic champion and UN Ambassador.
The National Paralympic Committee of Iran has a female vice president, and women make up 40% of its Executive Board and General Assembly, including two athlete representatives.
Since 2002, the committee has initiated programs to develop female athletes, coaches, and referees, achieving significant quantitative and qualitative growth by 2024.”
