Iran NPC, Tehran- These Para badminton talents, accompanied by Dr. Fariba Madadi, Vice President of Women’s Affairs
at the Iran badminton Federation, had travelled from various provinces
including Yazd, Isfahan, Mazandaran, Khuzestan, Zanjan, and Tehran to undergo
official assessment of their impairment at the Iran NPC headquarters.
The rising stars
“These young
athletes are the rising stars of the national championships who have already
won medals in different medical-sport classes,” said Dr. Madadi. “Some of them
had been classified previously, but to finalize their status, we brought them
to the Iran National Paralympic Committee for review and confirmation by two of
classification officers, Dr. Yahya Sokhangouei and Dr. Kianoush Zargaran.”
She added: “We
aim to develop Para badminton by increasing participation, especially among
young Para athletes, and making it an inclusive, healthy, and enjoyable lifelong activity.
Preparation for Dubai 2025
The first major
milestone for youth, after receiving technical training at national team camps,
will be participating in the Asian Youth Para Games in Dubai in 2025. Beyond
that, we are also planning for their involvement in other international
events.”
Dr. Madadi
highlighted that these athletes are born in 2005 and later, giving them many
potential years ahead in para badminton. “They have been identified and
recruited through nationwide announcements by the Federation, with strong support
from their families and provincial sports committees. We hope to witness them
achieve success in the upcoming competitions.”
She also noted:
“In less than a month, we will hold the first official training camp for the
youth national team in Isfahan, as preparation for the Dubai 2025 Asian Youth
Para Games.”
Reflecting on
the development of the sport, Dr. Madadi concluded: “Our first appearance at the
Asian Youth Para Games goes back to 2017 in the UAE. Since then, we have
witnessed a steady rise in the number of athletes in Para badminton. We
typically have players competing across all six classification categories, and
we are determined to ensure a strong presence at the 2025 Games in Dubai as
well.”
---