Babak Mohammadi, head of Iran’s Para Powerlifting Association, shared the latest on national team camps and upcoming events:
Current Training Camps: Four camps are underway for men’s and women’s teams in both junior and senior categories. Due to recent national circumstances, camps for junior and senior women and junior men are held in a decentralized (non-residential) format to maintain athlete stability. Senior men’s camp is semi-centralized – athletes able to attend train at Kabkanian Sports Complex under coach Hossein Tavakoli, others train remotely.
Busy Competitive Program: The year includes three major events:
World Championships in Egypt (Mid-October 2025): The first qualifying step for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics. Attendance by athletes aiming for Paralympic qualification is mandatory. This event requires higher costs and full preparation. Four teams (junior and senior men and women) will participate, not all in full numbers, but with a strong presence.
Islamic Solidarity Games (November 2025): Each country gets four para powerlifting slots (2 men, 2 women).
Para-Asian Youth Games (December 2025): Participation will be with maximum athletes due to the importance of the youth category.
Team Sizes and Participation:
Junior women: about 8-9 athletes
Senior women: 10 athletes (with 7 confirmed for the World Championships, including 1 junior and 6 seniors)
Junior men: approximately 6-7 athletes targeted for competition
Senior men: 14 athletes registered with all invited to the World Championships
Team and Mixed Events: For the first time, Iran will participate in team events at the World Championships, including the 3-on-3 team competitions and mixed teams comprising 2 men and 1 woman, with hopes of good results.
Competition Format: At Islamic Solidarity Games, weight classes divide into lightweight and heavyweight categories, with Sinclair scoring applied to the lifts.
Development Approach: The senior national team is a combination of hopeful young athletes promoted from juniors and established seniors, focusing on maintaining talent progression and comprehensive team strength
