Public votes crowned Paralympic stars Aliakbar Gharibshahi and Hajar Safarzadeh as Iran’s top male and female Para athletes of 2025.
Iran NPC, Tehran - Aliakbar Gharibshahi and Hajar Safarzadeh have been named Iran’s top male and female Para athletes of 2025 after winning the public vote at the country’s annual “Champions of Iran Sport” festival.
Organised annually by Iran’s Sports Channel, the festival recognises the country’s top sporting achievements across several categories, including Para Male Athlete of the Year and Para Female Athlete of the Year.
The closing ceremony was attended by senior sports officials and athletes, including Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian, Sport Minister Ahmad Donyamali, National Olympic Committee President Mahmoud Khosravivafa, NPC President Dr. Ghafour Karegari and IRIB chief Peyman Jebeli.
Gharibshahi, a Paralympic champion and world title-holder in Para powerlifting’s men’s up to 107kg event, claimed the men’s award following another successful international season.
Paralympic silver medallist Hajar Safarzadeh, who competed in the women’s 400m T12 in Paris, was voted Iran’s top female Para athlete by fans across the country.
Other nominees included Nikoo Rozbehani, Nasrin Shahi, Elham Salehi, Saeid Afroz, Yasin Khosravi and Amirhossein Alipour.
The annual awards are decided through public voting and celebrate athletes who have inspired sports fans nationwide.