Headline 2: Focus on youth and regular training camps key to building future generations: Weightlifting chief

By M. Salimi

Iran’s weightlifting federation president says the country’s youth and junior teams delivered a “brilliant” performance at the Asian Championships in Tashkent, securing 56 medals, including 28 golds.

In an exclusive interview with the Press TV website, Sajjad Anoushiravani hailed the historic achievements of Iran’s young weightlifters in Uzbekistan, noting that their success was all the more remarkable given the ongoing war against the country, as well as economic challenges and sanctions.

He noted that the federation’s long-term strategy is to develop multiple medal contenders in every weight category for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics and beyond.

"The performance in Tashkent was, praise be to God, very brilliant," Anoushiravani told the Press TV website.

"If two of our athletes—one in the women's and one in the men's—hadn't made mistakes, we would have definitely won two more gold medals. Our goal in focusing on youth and holding continuous camps is to build future generations—generations behind the current one. In weightlifting, we are obliged to create 4-5 contenders in every weight category for the Los Angeles Olympics and even beyond."

Asked about the historic success of the girls' team, which secured second place in Asia with six golds, three silvers and three bronzes, Anoushiravani said the federation had been working on youth development for the past two to three years.

"Last year we became world champions and this year our juniors repeated that success," said the legendary weightlifter and 2012 London Olympic silver medalist who has been heading the federation since 2022.

"All of this shows that the federation has continuous programs for camps, for building generations and we must expand our infrastructure to provide more opportunities for our youth. We want to build a generation that can bring glory to Iranian weightlifting in world events and the Olympics for several cycles."

On the standout performances of Mohammad Reza Beiranvand and Mohammad Javad Beiranvand, who together pocketed 15 gold medals and shattered many world records, Anoushiravani said the federation would carefully nurture their talent.

"Mr. Beiranvand is one of our exceptional talents and he really knows his craft," he said. "He's a young man who acts much more mature than his age. But we must take care of him first. He still has three more years in the junior category and we must prepare him for higher competitions. We will be successful when the federation's planning ensures that he breaks the records he set this year again next year—that is true success."

Asked how the federation managed to organize regular camps and international trips despite tough economic conditions and illegal sanctions, Anoushiravani credited Behdad Salimi, former Olympic gold medalist and federation's general manager, as well as improved financial management.

"The factor is Behdad Salimi," he said. "He and I worked shoulder to shoulder to change the federation's financial situation. Our conditions are better now. The Ministry of Sports, especially the minister himself, has been supporting us and we have a sponsor. For three consecutive years—and this is the fourth year—we have had an official sponsor, something this sport hadn't seen in its history. Financial management is also being handled excellently in all aspects."

On the upcoming Asian Games in Nagoya to be held in September, Anoushiravani said the team selected for the highly competitive continental Games is different from the one that competed in Tashkent.

"Tashkent could have been a test for our girls, but not for our boys, because the team going to Nagoya is a different one that is training hard under the supervision of Mr. Behdad Salimi," he said.

"We only won one silver medal in the last Asian Games. Hopefully this time we will make up for it. I hope we will not disappoint the people of Iran."

When asked about finishing just three points short of the team title despite having one fewer athlete than Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, Anoushiravani expressed confidence that the team would compensate for it in the future.

"We should have won with authority, but our athlete missed the lifts and lost points," he said. "Otherwise, our team was complete and we could have even sent two teams to the competition."

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir