Hassan Tabatabei Elected President of Iranian Blind Sports Federation

The first round of voting did not determine a clear winner. Aliasgar Hassanzadeh led the initial round with 15 votes, followed by Tabatabei with 14 votes. Hamed Afrasiabi received eight votes, Vahid Ansari gathered six, while Jalal Karami and Sadegh Mirei each received two votes.

Determining the Winner

Since no candidate managed to secure the necessary majority, the election proceeded to a second round between the two leaders. In the decisive second round, Tabatabei overcame his deficit from the first round and won, receiving 28 votes, ahead of Hassanzadeh, who garnered 20 votes.

Legacy and Tasks

Tabatabei succeeds Mohammadreza Mazloumi, whose third consecutive term as president of the federation concluded in February of this year. During Mazloumi's leadership, one of the most successful eras in the federation's history was achieved, marked by strong performances by Iranian athletes in international competitions for the blind and visually impaired, especially at the Paralympic Games and World Championships.

The new president possesses significant experience in Iranian sports administration, having previously served as the president of the Iranian Karate Federation. Now, Tabatabei faces the task of developing the federation's recent successes and preparing Iranian athletes for upcoming regional, continental, and international competitions, including the next Paralympics.