Iran’s armed forces chief, first vice president and foreign minister have separately congratulated the country’s athletes on their impressive victories at the Asian Games in Japan’s Nagoya.
In a message on Saturday, Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces Major General Ali Abdollahi said the brilliant performance of Iranian athletes at the 2026 Asian Games was a “valuable display” of the capabilities, determination, hard work and sportsmanship of the country’s youth.
He congratulated the Iranian nation, particularly the country’s champion and medal-winning athletes, as well as their coaches and technical staff, families and the wider sports community, on their great achievements.
“Undoubtedly, the raising of the sacred flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the resounding of our country’s proud national anthem at international arenas are manifestations of the great Iranian nation’s dignity, power, and pride,” the top commander said.
Abdollahi also prayed for the continued success of Iran’s champion athletes and outstanding young people in all sporting and national fields.
First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref also on Saturday congratulated Iran’s athletes on their brilliant performance at the Nagoya Asian Games, where they won 52 medals, including 19 gold, 18 silver and 15 bronze.
In a message, Aref said such achievements were a source of hope, national self-confidence and vitality for Iranian society, particularly at a time when the Iranian people need hope and solidarity more than ever.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also congratulated Iran’s national volleyball team on winning the gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games.
In his message, he said the Iranian volleyball players not only defended their title and secured the Asian Games gold medal for the country for a fourth consecutive time, but also raised Iran’s national flag and had the country’s national anthem played on the international stage.
Iran defeated hosts Japan 3-1 in the men’s volleyball final to retain their Asian Games title for a fourth consecutive edition and claim the country’s only gold medal in a team-ball sport at Nagoya 2026.
Playing before around 5,000 home supporters at the final on Saturday, Roberto Piazza’s side recovered from a second-set loss to beat Japan 28-26, 19-25, 25-21, 26-24 and complete an unbeaten campaign.
Iran wrapped up its taekwondo campaign at the 2026 Asian Games with two gold, one silver and one bronze medal after Olympic champion Arian Salimi won the men’s +80kg title on the final day in Nagoya.
Salimi defeated Uzbekistan’s Marat Mavlonov 2-0 in the gold-medal contest at Toyohashi Gymnasium, winning both rounds decisively, 26-4 and 20-8.
Iran claimed its first-ever Asian Games padel medal after Farsad Shahi and Amirmohammad Jamshidi defeated compatriots Hami Golestan and Arya Roghani 2-0 in the men’s pairs bronze-medal match in Nagoya.
Shahi and Jamshidi won 6-3, 6-4 at the Nagoya City Higashi Sports Center on Saturday to secure third place in the inaugural Asian Games padel competition.
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