Champions of Iran: From Taremi to Kiani, sporting heroes honored for bringing glory to country

By Alireza Akbari

On Wednesday, Mehdi Taremi, the star striker for Iran’s national football team and Italian club Inter Milan, along with Nahid Kiani, a Taekwondo champion and Olympic silver medalist, received top honors at the annual sports awards ceremony in Tehran.

While Taremi walked away with ‘Male Athlete of the Year 1403’ award, Kiani bagged the ‘Female Athlete of the Year 1403’ award in a nationwide popular vote.

The closing ceremony of the fourth edition of the 'Champions of Iran Ceremony' was held at the IRIB International Conference Center, attended by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Minister of Sport and Youth Ahmad Donyamali and IRIB chief Peyman Jebelli.

Also present on the occasion were senior officials from the National Olympic and Paralympic Committees, heads of various federations, as well as a number of prominent athletes.

Launched in 2021 by IRIB's Sports Channel, it is an initiative aimed at celebrating the country’s top athletes, originally conceived as a project to select the 'Athlete of the Century'.

Since then, the festival has been held annually with the goal of reinforcing national pride, showcasing sporting achievements, and honoring the efforts of Iranian champions.

The nomination process of athletes in the awards festival follows a meticulous five-stage evaluation, beginning with expert review and committee approval, comprising media professionals and veteran athletes, followed by a nationwide public vote.

This year, after tallying the votes on Wednesday night, Mehdi Taremi and Nahid Kiani were named Iran’s Male and Female Athletes of the Year for 1403 (2024–2025) respectively.

In addition to these marquee awards, awards were also presented across several categories, including Best Coach, Best Federation, Best Paralympic Athletes, and Best Team of the Year.

Male Athlete of the Year 1403

Taremi played a pivotal role for Team Melli throughout the Persian year 1403, dominating multiple performance metrics and firmly establishing himself as the face of Iranian football.

He recorded the most international appearances (10 matches), scored the highest number of goals, and provided the most assists for Team Melli during the past year.

The star striker netted six goals, highlighted by a standout hat-trick against Hong Kong during FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers. He also recorded five assists, including a remarkable three-assist performance in a single match against North Korea.

On March 25, 2025, Taremi scored a decisive brace against Uzbekistan in a World Cup qualifier, sealing Iran’s ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico.

Having been rested in the previous match against the UAE, the striker returned to action refreshed and delivered two brilliant goals in the 52nd and 83rd minutes, marking the third consecutive World Cup qualification campaign in which Taremi played a pivotal role.

His World Cup qualifying legacy extends even further. In the final round of qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Taremi scored a crucial winner against Iraq on January 27, 2022, at Azadi Stadium, propelling Iran to an early qualification.

Similarly, on June 12, 2017, he netted an 88th-minute goal against Uzbekistan to secure Iran’s place in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

At the club level, Taremi’s time at Portuguese club FC Porto marked a turning point in his professional career. He began the year with the club and closed out the season on a high note.

In nine appearances for FC Porto, he scored five goals and contributed three assists, including the decisive strike that clinched the domestic cup title.

Taremi’s impressive form attracted attention from several top European clubs. As his contract with Porto expired, he received a flurry of offers and ultimately chose Inter Milan as his next destination, making him the first Iranian player in years to join one of Europe’s elite clubs.

Competing for minutes in Inter’s highly competitive attacking lineup, Taremi still managed to make his presence felt.

His standout moment came in the Italian Super Cup final, an electric Milan Derby, where he both scored and assisted against AC Milan.

Inter’s head coach, Simone Inzaghi, showed strong faith in the Iranian striker, featuring him in nine UEFA Champions League matches, including seven starts.

Taremi’s goal in the Supercoppa Italiana final was also named the “Best Goal of the Year” during the festival.

Female Athlete of the Year 1403

Kiani, Iran’s trailblazing taekwondo star, made history at the Paris Olympics 2024 by becoming the first Iranian woman ever to reach the Olympic taekwondo final.

Her silver-medal run didn’t just break barriers, but it also cemented her status as the most decorated female Iranian Olympian in taekwondo history.

Prior to Kiani’s feat, Iranian women had only claimed two Olympic bronze medals.

Competing in the fiercely contested 67kg weight class, Kiani’s path to the podium was anything but easy. She opened her campaign with a dramatic, last-second victory over Kimia Alizadeh, the former teammate now representing Bulgaria in international competitions. 

Kiani carried her momentum into the quarterfinals, edging out Tunisia’s Chaima Toumi, and then delivered a dominant 2-0 performance against Lebanon’s Laetitia Aoun in the semifinals to punch her ticket to the gold medal match.

Though she ultimately fell to South Korea’s Kim Yujin in the final bout, Kiani’s silver medal was a monumental achievement, marking Iran’s sixth medal in the Paris Games and second in taekwondo.

Her outstanding Olympic performance captured the nation’s heart and earned high praise, including a personal congratulatory message from the Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who hailed her “commendable efforts” and celebrated her historic run. 

Best Coach of the Year 1403

Greco-Roman wrestling head coach, Hassan Rangraz, was voted Iran’s Best Coach of the Year 1403 by popular vote for leading the national Greco-Roman wrestling team to Olympic honors. 

Under Rangraz’s stewardship, Iran lit up the mats at the Paris Olympics, clinching four medals in a dominant display that rewrote the country’s wrestling history.

The Greco-Roman events took place at the sprawling Champ-de-Mars Arena from August 5 to 7, where six Iranian warriors battled with pride and passion.

Iran's wrestlers delivered thumping performance, capturing two golds, one silver, and one bronze, marking the first time ever the nation reached the four-medal mark in Olympic Greco-Roman wrestling.

It was also the best overall team performance among all competing nations in the discipline.

Gold medals went to Saeid Esmaeili (67kg) and Mohammad Hadi Saravi (97kg), while Alireza Mohmadi earned silver in the 87kg category, and Amin Mirzazadeh bagged bronze in the 130kg class.

Also competing with grit and resolve were Mehdi Mohsen Nejad, who finished fifth in the 60kg division, and Amin Kaviani Nejad, who was placed eighth in the 77kg category.

Best Paralympic Athlete of the Year 1403 (Male)

Iran’s para powerlifting icon Rouhollah Rostami added yet another golden chapter to his storied career, earning the title of 'Best Male Paralympic Athlete' after a record-breaking performance at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.

Lifting an astounding 242kg in the men’s 80kg category, Rostami didn’t just claim Iran’s fourth gold medal of the Games, he also shattered both the world and Paralympic records, breaking his own previous best by 1kg, a mark he had set in Thailand in 2021.

Competing at the La Chapelle Arena, Rostami opened with a commanding 230kg lift, followed by a smooth 234kg in his second attempt. But it was on his third lift that history was made, his confident 242kg press sealed the gold and etched his name once again into the record books.

This wasn’t Rostami’s first brush with greatness. A gold medalist at Tokyo 2020 and a silver medalist at London 2012 in the 67.5kg class, Rostami has long been a dominant force in para powerlifting, and now, with another world record under his belt, he stands tall as one of the sport’s all-time legends.

Best Paralympic Athlete (Female) and Best Sports Moment of the Year 1403

Paralympic shooting legend Sareh Javanmardi was awarded Best Paralympic Athlete of the Year and Best Sports Moment of the Year 1403 for kissing the Holy Quran  following her golden triumph at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

In addition to her athletic brilliance, Javanmardi captured hearts across the nation when she kissed the Holy Quran after her victory—a moment that was voted the Best Sports Moment of the Year in Iran.

Competing in the P2 10m Air Pistol SH1 event, Javanmardi showcased nerves of steel and flawless precision.

She qualified for the final with a solid 570-point performance and went on to outshoot Turkey’s Aysel Özgan in a nail-biting final, scoring 236.8 to take the gold.

This gold medal marked her fourth Paralympic title and fifth overall medal across four consecutive Games. Her journey to greatness began with bronze in London 2012, followed by double gold in Rio 2016 (individual and mixed), and another gold at Tokyo 2020.

Best Iranian Team of the Year

Iran’s national sitting volleyball team earned the title of “Best Team of the Year 1403” by popular vote after capturing their eighth Paralympic gold medal at the Paris 2024 Games.

In a thrilling final showdown, Iran overcame a first-set loss to defeat long-time rivals Bosnia in a 3–1 comeback victory—delivering yet another masterclass in resilience and teamwork.

Their road to the final was nothing short of dominant. Iran cruised past Ukraine, Brazil, and Germany in the group stage, then dispatched Egypt in the semifinals, reaffirming their status as the team to beat in international sitting volleyball.

Best Sports Team of the Year 1403

Making history and turning heads, Iran's handball team was honored as Best 'National Team of the Year 1403' by popular vote and an expert panel.

This remarkable team holds the distinction of being the first Iranian women’s squad in any sport to qualify for the IHF Women’s World Handball Championship, debuting on the global stage in 2021.

They didn’t stop there, repeating the feat in 2022 and again in 2024, making it three consecutive World Championship appearances and carving a permanent place in the history of Iranian sports.

Their global impact has grown with standout performances on the world stage. Fatemeh Khalili and Elnaz Ghasemi were both named Players of the Match at the 25th IHF Women’s World Championship in Spain.

In the 26th edition of the tournament in Denmark, Fatemeh Merrikh was selected as one of the event’s Top 9 Rising Stars.

Back in Asia, Nasrin Farahani and Fatemeh Khalili were both named among the Top 7 Players of the 20th Asian Women’s Handball Championship in India, another major milestone for the team.

Champion of Tomorrow

At just 19 years, Mobina Nematzadeh has already made a name for herself, earning the 'Champion of Tomorrow title by popular vote after a breakout performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Competing in the 49kg taekwondo division, Nematzadeh made her Olympic debut one to remember.

She opened her campaign with total dominance over a seasoned opponent from Lesotho, winning both rounds with commanding 3–0 and 2–0 victories.

Next up was Spain’s Adriana Cerezo, but the young Iranian sensation was unstoppable, clearly outmatching her rival to march into the semifinals.

Although she fell short against China’s Guo Qing in the fight for gold, Nematzadeh showed her resilience and grit in the bronze medal match, where she overpowered Saudi Arabia’s Dunya Abutaleb to secure the podium finish.

Her bronze was Iran’s first medal in taekwondo at Paris 2024 and only the second overall at that point in the Games.

Iran’s Top Federations in 1403

In a year packed with unforgettable moments and podium finishes, Iran’s Wrestling and Taekwondo Federations were jointly crowned as Iran’s Top Sports Federation of 1403, following a spectacular showing at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Iranian wrestlers once again lived up to their reputation, delivering the nation’s most decorated Olympic performance to date.

The 11-member wrestling squad brought home an astonishing eight medals, elevating Iran to 21st in the final medal standings and etching their names in Olympic history.

Both freestyle and Greco-Roman divisions showcased grit, talent, and tactical brilliance on the mats, with 8 out of 11 wrestlers stepping onto the podium.

Their feat introduced a fresh wave of young talent poised to lead Iran’s wrestling into a new era.

Paris Olympics: Iranian wrestlers stamp their authority on biggest stage with 8 medals

Iranian wrestlers stamped their authority at the Paris Olympics, etching their names in the annals of the countrys sports history with the highest number of Olympic medals.

Meanwhile, Iran’s taekwondo stars delivered their own masterclass, rising above expectations to secure four medals, a remarkable achievement considering only four athletes (two women and two men) represented the nation in this discipline.

With wrestling and taekwondo combining for 12 of Iran’s Olympic medals, the final stretch of the Games turned into a celebration of Iranian strength, discipline, and resilience.

As the curtain closed on Paris 2024, Iran's combat sports proudly stood at the forefront, not just collecting medals, but redefining national pride on the global stage.

Paris Olympics: Iran’s taekwondo 'stars' bring laurels to country with four medals

Iran was represented by 40 athletes at the Paris Olympics, including four young taekwondo athletes. All four of them won medals, bringing laurels to their country.

 Takhti World Champion Medal

Iranian Greco-Roman wrestler Amin Mirzazadeh was honored with the prestigious 'Takhti World Champion Medal', following his gritty and impactful performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Competing in the 130kg weight class, Mirzazadeh delivered a commanding performance in the bronze medal bout, defeating Azerbaijan’s Sabah Shariati with a dominant 4–0 scoreline.

Mirzazadeh’s Olympic run began with a solid 3–0 win over American wrestler Adam Coon, before facing off against one of the sport’s greatest, Cuba’s Mijaín López, in the semifinals.

Though he fell short against the Cuban legend, Mirzazadeh showed resilience and composure to bounce back and stand proudly on the podium.

The Takhti Medal, named after the iconic Iranian wrestling champion Gholamreza Takhti, celebrates athletes who embody sportsmanship, perseverance, and excellence, qualities that Mirzazadeh displayed in full throughout the Games.

Martyr Qassem Soleimani Award

Iranian rowing athlete Zeinab Norouzi was awarded the 'Martyr Qassem Soleimani Award' at the Iran Champions ceremony for her vocal support of the Palestinian people during the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Norouzi’s gesture of holding the Palestinian flag resonated with audiences beyond the sporting arena, reflecting her values and sense of solidarity on the world stage.

Notably, the marquee sports event in Paris came amid the genocidal war on Gaza, which has claimed tens of thousands of innocent lives, most of them children and women.

Special recognition at the Iran Champion festival

The closing ceremony of the Iran Champion festival also featured special tributes to a number of standout figures from Iran’s historic run at the Paris 2024 Games:

Zahra Rahimi, silver medalist in Paralympic taekwondo; Minoo Maddah, head coach of the women’s national taekwondo team; Mohammad Hadi Saravi, Greco-Roman wrestling gold medalist; and Arian Salimi, Olympic taekwondo gold medalist, were also among the standout figures.

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