Iranian ace finds silver lining after gold rush

Although his Hangzhou medal was silver, following three consecutive golds at the past three editions of the Asian Games, Irani sanda (Chinese kickboxing) athlete Mohsen Mohammadseifi is still pleased and proud to become an inspiration for other practitioners of the combat sport.

"It is an honor to be one of the best wushu (Chinese martial arts) athletes in the world. When I entered this gymnasium, all the players knew me. They asked to take pictures with me, and they told me I am the best," the 34-year-old said, after losing to China's He Feng in the 70kg sanda final.

"I am very happy ... because I have been working so hard for so many years."

In addition to the Asian Games gold medals he respectively collected at Guangzhou 2010, Incheon 2014 and Jakarta-Palembang 2018, Mohammadseifi also took the top spots at five world championships between 2011 and '19.

"It is my fourth medal at the Asian Games, and this (silver) one is also very special," Mohammadseifi said.

"Competing at four Asian Games means being at the top for 16 years. I have been training so hard for all these years."

The native of Zanjan, Iran, started martial arts in 2000 and began fighting in wushu competitions in 2004.

"Wushu is an art. It is a beauty," said Mohammadseifi.

"Wushu has come a long way since 2010. Athletes have become much stronger and more technical. The sport has become widespread, and I know it will be hard to repeat the successes."

While wushu originated in China, Iran has become one of the most competitive countries, especially in the sanda discipline.

As of Thursday, five Iranian athletes had made it into the total seven sanda finals.

Mohammadseifi said he owes his team's success to the nation's wushu federation, which provides high-level coaches and comprehensive facilities for all levels.

"Sanda is a fully competitive combat sport in Iran, which, with the special program of the Iranian Wushu Federation, has made the Iranian national team, along with China, one of the best in the world," he said.

"Correct and purposeful management and planning, many fans, close competitions and the efforts of all athletes have made Iran's wushu strong in the world today."

Mohammadseifi said that he has good memories of the competitions he has attended in China, where he got his first Asian Games gold in 2010, and his favorite gold at the Shanghai World Championships in 2019.

"China is always a lovely country, and Hangzhou is really a beautiful city with great people. Everything is great here. I thank the organizers and volunteers," he said.

"Hangzhou is a big city with a rich history and a promising future."

WANG XIN in Hangzhou