Iran’s Pourrahnama among Those to Watch in Para Taekwondo
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Since picking up his first Worlds medal in 2009 at the age of 13, the “Iranian Hurricane” has strung together one of the best resumes in the sport – four World Championships, six Asian Championships and two IWAS World Games titles.
Mehdi Pourrahnama has been so dominant that he has – at times – looked simply unbeatable, Paralympic.org reported.
Still, in the ultra competitive -75 kg division, he has run into trouble. Since ascending to the top of the division in 2012, he has been bested just twice – famously to No. 1-ranked Magomedzagir Isaldibirov (RUS) at the 2016 European Open final and then a shock golden point round of 16 exit at the 2019 World Championships.
However, he showed why he is still the man to beat by crushing his competition 78-10 in three fights to pick up his fifth straight Asian title in his very next tournament and added a sixth in 2021 with a 31-15 win over rival Isaldibirov.
Born without a hand, the sure-fire medal threat picked up the sport as a child.
