The President of the Iranian Federation of Mountaineering and Sport Climbing, Reza Zarei, highly praised Reza Alipur's silver medal won at the Asian Games in Nagoya, noting that the athlete is capable of competing in the 2028 Olympic Games.
According to Zarei, the experienced speed climber has been a recognized world performer and record holder for many years, and his silver award holds the same value as gold.
Commenting on the level of competition in sport climbing at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Zarei noted the dominance of Asian athletes in men's speed climbing, emphasizing the significant progress of China and Indonesia on the world stage over the past decade.
He added that countries such as South Korea, Japan, and Iran have also achieved good results in international competitions. However, Ukraine, Poland, and Russia previously held leading positions in this discipline. Nevertheless, after sport climbing became an Olympic sport, the United States invested heavily in its development, which helped the discipline reach a relatively mature level worldwide.
In Iran, the development of this sport is limited by the lack of infrastructure in most provinces, forcing the country to rely on individual talents like Alipur, the federation president reported. He also mentioned that some Iranian female climbers have achieved success at the international youth level.
Zarei reiterated that Reza Alipur has long been a leading figure and a world record holder in the sport. He noted that in Nagoya, Alipur utilized his extensive experience to win silver, which was no less valuable than gold.
The federation president explained that after the Olympics, Alipur struggled with an injury that disrupted his training regimen. However, after the Asian Beach Games, the Iranian climber resumed a positive training trajectory and continued to show progress.
Zarei's comments also indicate Alipur's potential to remain competitive at the highest level, as the federation president expressed confidence that this speed climbing veteran can still participate in the next Olympic Games.