Men of Steel in US for Weightlifting Championship

Iran Weightlifting Federation has sent its strongest team to the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Championships in Anaheim, California, November 28-December 6.

Despite many difficulties, the weightlifters got their US visas hours before the deadline passed, Varzesh3.com reported.

The United States and Iran do not have diplomatic relations since the advent of the Islamic Revolution in 1979. To travel to the US, Iranians must apply for their visas through US diplomatic missions in other countries.

The Iranian squad, made up of Kianoush Rostami, Behdad Salimi, Sohrab Moradi, Alireza Soleimani, Ali Miri, Ali Hashemi, Seyed Ayub Mousavi, Saed Alihosseini left home on Tuesday to participate in the American event.

With three Olympic gold winners and a World Junior record holder, the team can be considered the strongest ever in the history of Iranian weightlifting.

Alihosseini, the junior world record holder for +105kg is making his first international appearance after he was banned for some time due to doping.

Hashemi, the 2015 Asian Championships bronze winner, will meet his rivals in the 94 kg category. He participated in the 2016 Olympic Games but failed to win.

  Studded With Olympians

Kianoush Rostami, 2016 Rio Olympics gold medal winner and the silver winner in the 2012 London Olympics, will compete in the -85kg category. Other than his Olympic honors, Rostami has six gold and silver medals from Asian and world tournaments since 2011 up to now.

In the category of +105kg, Behdad Salimi, the gold winner in the London Olympics, will represent Iran. He won gold in the 2010 and 2017 World Championships held in Antalya and Paris.

Moreover, Sohrab Moradi, the gold medal winner in the 94kg weight division at the 2016 Olympics is the other Olympian in the team. He won a gold medal during the Asian championships in the 85kg class held in 2009 and 2012.

Ten athletes from other countries including Russia are banned from international competitions including the event at Anaheim. The ban coupled with the team’s expertise and experience, presents the Iranian squad with ample opportunity to win big in the US event.

Mohsen Beiranvand, Asghar Ebrahimi and Kourosh Rostami are among the technical staff of the team. Mohammad Reza Kazeminejad, the team manager and Ali Moradi, the director of Weightlifting Federation of Iran, are accompanying the home team.