Iran secured two gold medals and Uzbekistan earned one as Para Taekwondo competition concluded at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games on Wednesday, October 21, at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Gymnasium in Japan.

Following an opening day featuring champions from Mongolia, Chinese Taipei and Iran and a second day highlighted by China’s two women’s titles, the remaining three divisions completed the programme of ten medal events.

Iran finished with four gold medals, followed by China and Mongolia with two each. Chinese Taipei and Uzbekistan claimed one title apiece.

Bakht and Haghshenas Add Final-Day Golds

In the men’s K44 −80kg, Iran’s Alireza Bakht won gold, adding the Asian Para Games title to his Paris 2024 Paralympic bronze and silver from the previous Asian Para Games in Hangzhou.

South Korea’s Jeonghun Joo, the defending Hangzhou champion and a bronze medallist at both Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, took silver. Iran’s Mahdi Pourrahnamaahmad and Uzbekistan’s Otabek Amatov earned bronze.

Iran celebrated again in the men’s K44 +80kg, where Hamed Haghshenas retained his Asian Para Games title. The Paris 2024 bronze medallist topped the podium ahead of Uzbekistan’s Umarjon Muydinov.

Iraq’s Shad Khoshinaw, who advanced through repechage, and Uzbekistan’s Asadbek Toshtemirov took bronze. World Taekwondo highlighted Khoshinaw’s development, including his participation in its Para Taekwondo training camps in Muju over the past two years.

Naimova Retains Her Title

Uzbekistan’s Guljonoy Naimova won the women’s K44 +65kg, securing her country’s only gold of the competition and defending the title she earned in Hangzhou.

The victory adds another major honour to a career that includes Paralympic gold at Tokyo 2020 and silver at Paris 2024.

China’s Tang Qi claimed silver, while Iran’s Marzieh Nasrollahi and Uzbekistan’s Karomat Kosimova completed the podium with bronze medals.

An Emotional Farewell to Mahdi

The closing day also marked the end of a distinguished career. According to World Taekwondo, Mahdi Pourrahnamaahmad retired from competition in Nagoya.

A five-time world champion and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic silver medallist, the Iranian had competed since the inaugural World Para Taekwondo Championships in Baku in 2009.

After his final bout, Mahdi placed the belt that had accompanied him through years of competition on the mat and kissed it. Athletes, officials and spectators responded with a standing ovation, recognising his achievements and contribution to the sport.

He leaves competition with one final medal: bronze in the men’s −80kg.

Final-Day Medallists

Men’s K44 −80kg

• Gold: Alireza Bakht — Iran.
• Silver: Jeonghun Joo — South Korea.
• Bronze: Mahdi Pourrahnamaahmad — Iran.
• Bronze: Otabek Amatov — Uzbekistan.

Women’s K44 +65kg

• Gold: Guljonoy Naimova — Uzbekistan.
• Silver: Tang Qi — China.
• Bronze: Marzieh Nasrollahi — Iran.
• Bronze: Karomat Kosimova — Uzbekistan.

Men’s K44 +80kg

• Gold: Hamed Haghshenas — Iran.
• Silver: Umarjon Muydinov — Uzbekistan.
• Bronze: Shad Khoshinaw — Iraq.
• Bronze: Asadbek Toshtemirov — Uzbekistan.

Ten Titles Shared by Five Delegations

The three-day competition ended with the following distribution of gold medals:

• Iran: four.
• China: two.
• Mongolia: two.
• Chinese Taipei: one.
• Uzbekistan: one.

Para Taekwondo concluded its Aichi-Nagoya 2026 programme with 83 athletes from 18 countries, including 40 women. The Asian Para Games continue through October 24.

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