Izadyar upbeat about Paralympic swimming medal after missing Tokyo meet
Swimming sensation Shahin Izadyar says his omission from the Iranian squad for last August’s Tokyo Paralympics has not undermined his dogged determination to finish on the podiums at the Paris Games in two years’ time.
Izadyar, 28, who stole the headlines by winning a remarkable six golds and one silver tally at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, had to watch the Tokyo event from home as the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) of Iran decided not to send a swimming team to the Japanese capital. “I was preparing for the Games when the NPC announced some five months before the event that only those with the chance of winning a medal would be sent to Tokyo,” Izadyar – a two-time Paralympian in 2012 and 2016 – said in an exclusive interview with Iran Daily. “My records in training prior to the Games had suggested that a first-ever Paralympic medal for Iran would have been within my reach and even the results in Tokyo confirmed I would have finished on the podium,” regretted the Iranian. When asked if he would still be fighting for glory at Paris 2024, Izadyar, said, “Absolutely. When I first won two gold medals, one silver, and three bronzes at the Guangzhou Asian Para Games in 2010, I promised myself that I wouldn’t quit the sport until I win a Paralympic medal.” Before a bid for a place in Paris, next for the Iranian swimmer is a fourth Asian Para Games participation in Hangzhou, China, next October. Asked about his prediction for the Asian event, Izadyar said, “I’ve won 19 medals – including eight golds – at the Games so far in my career and I will be looking forward to take the tally to at least 23 in Hangzhou.” However, the Iranian might be facing a tougher task in October compared to the previous three occasions. “I last took part at an international tournament in 2019 in London and it will have been three years since I watched my opponents when the Asian Para Games get underway. Some new faces from Japan and China have found their ways into the world ranking, and their records suggest they have a decent chance of success in the Para Games.
“Moreover, China is the dominant swimming force in Asia and the country – as the host of the Games – will be entitled to name three swimmers in each category, which will make it even harder for me to repeat my success,” added the Iranian breaststroke specialist.
Iran has enjoyed relatively greater success at the Paralympics and Asian Para Games over the years, compared to the Olympic and Asian Games achievements.
The latest edition of the Paralympics saw the country collect 24 medals – including 12 golds – while the number stood at seven at the Olympics two weeks earlier.
A 62-medal campaign for the country at the 2018 Asian Games was followed by 136 medals – 51 golds – and a third-spot finish at the Para Games.
Izadyar says the para athletes’ personal ambitions have contributed the most to Iran’s achievements at an international level.
“The disabled athletes constantly want to prove to the Iranian society that they possess the same qualities as normal athletes. That’s probably why Iran has achieved better results at international events for the disabled. Iran won seven medals in the disabled meet in Jakarta, while a 17th place was the best result for the country at the Asian Games contests for non-disabled swimmers,” said the Iranian representative at the S10 class – a category allocated to those with minimum disability – who says his breaststroke 100m record of 1 min. 9 sec. equals the fourth best time in the domestic league for normal swimmers.
Izadyar said that more NPC support and, most significantly, wider media coverage would lead to even bigger achievements for Iran in the future events.
“More publicity will bring sponsorship deals which play a major part for any athlete, given the high expenses of training and preparation,” said the Iranian, whose ultimate goal – other than a Paralympic medal – is to reach “a proper scientific and financial level in life to be able to help my fellow disabled in Iran.”