For the first time, women weightlifters from Iran will be seen in international events, the President of the Iranian Weightlifting Association Ali Moradi announced on Thursday.
“We have established the Iran Weightlifting Federation Women’s Committee and we have talented female athletes,” Moradi was quoted in Reuters.
“They have the high capacity like men athletes, and I hope that wearing special clothes for Muslim athletes, they will be able to take part in international championships in the near future.”
Iranian men have won seven Olympic gold medals since the Sydney Games in 2000.
Attila Adamfi, Director General of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), said: “This is good news, and it’s very significant in Iran, where weightlifting is at the highest level for men, and zero level for women.”
“To have Iran and USA women lifting together would be great, it would show that sport is above politics,” he added.
Moradi has invited the United States to Iran for the Fajr Cup, an international invitation competition for men, in Ahvaz in March. He has also asked the US to send a women’s delegation.
A friendly women’s international between Iran and the United States, according to the report, is also on the cards.