Hajar Safarzadeh, an outstanding Iranian athlete in paraathletics, has set herself the goal of winning a gold medal at the 2026 Asian Para Games, which will be held in Nagoya.
Safarzadeh stated that she will give her all to win the Games and strives to finish the competition without regrets. The sprinter plans to participate in the 100m, 200m, and 400m races at the Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya in 2026.
The athlete emphasized her determination, saying: 'I promise to give my absolute best to return to Iran with the best possible medal. My main goal is to please the people of Iran.'
She admitted that preparation was not always perfect, as the national team faced several difficulties during training camps, including limited access to suitable track facilities.
Safarzadeh added: 'Conditions are never completely ideal, and there are always obstacles. We encountered some shortages during our training camps and did not always have access to a suitable track. But I have learned to accept difficult circumstances and overcome challenges to achieve a good result in the upcoming competitions.'
When asked about her chances of winning gold in Nagoya, Safarzadeh noted the unpredictability of sports but promised to fight until the end. She repeated: 'No one can predict the future in sports, but I promise the people that, as always, I will give my all to achieve the best possible result. I want to finish the competition knowing that I left nothing behind and have no regrets.'
Furthermore, Safarzadeh welcomed the growing number of Iranian women involved in paraathletics. She noted: 'Fortunately, we have more runners and athletes this time. Besides sprinters, we have a long jumper and women participating in various disciplines. This is a very positive development and can inspire youth and girls across the country to take up paraathletics.'
Safarzadeh believes that Iran's participation in sprints, endurance events, and long jump among women's competitions is an encouraging sign for the future of this sport. Although she has designated the 400 meters as her main event, she is also aiming for strong performances in the 100m and 200m races.
Previously, Safarzadeh won gold in the 200 meters at the last Asian Para Games, but was disqualified from the 400 meters after a rule violation. She concluded her statement by saying: 'This time, with the help of my coach, I am working hard to achieve a much better result. I also want to test myself in the 100 meters, and I hope something positive comes from it.'
