The Iranian Asian weight throw champion states that despite winning multiple medals in various competitions, he has received 'no support' from the Ministry of Sports and the National Olympic Committee. In the throwing events of the 2024 Asia Championships hosted by South Korea, Mehdi Saberi stood on the podium, surpassing Chinese thrower Tian Zi Zhong. Saberi says: 'I pay 7 million tomans in rent each month, I train in Mashhad. I am currently in a tough situation and hope the national team camp starts soon so that issues regarding salaries, supplement costs, and other matters can be addressed.' His achievements include being the runner-up in the continental athletics tour hosted by Uzbekistan and winning a silver medal in the outdoor Asia Championships in 2023 hosted by Bangkok. He told ISNA: 'I am close to the Iranian record. In practice, I throw 20.30 meters. The national record is 20.66 meters. If I don't have to worry about rent, daily food, and supplements, breaking this record and even qualifying for the Olympics is not out of reach.' The fifth-place finisher in the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou discusses his situation: 'In Mashhad, I pay all the camp expenses myself. The provincial athletics federation provides no support.' Mr. Saberi is the third-place finisher in the 2024 Kazanov Cup in Kazakhstan and has had a successful year. However, his concerns reflect the issues faced by many national champions in various sports, ranging from job requests to basic facilities for national champions, such as housing, livelihood issues, and authorized supplements. These problems have led Saberi to emphasize in his conversation with ISNA: 'This year, due to personal living conditions, I have slightly declined.' The presidency of the athletics federation is held by Ehsan Haddadi, who has also been a thrower and has been present in camps with champions like Saberi. However, Mr. Haddadi has yet to present a program to address the basic needs of champions in this sport.
Mehdi Saberi, Asian Weight Throw Champion: My Concerns Are Rent and Nutrition
Mehdi Saberi, an Iranian weight throw champion, expresses his struggles with financial support despite his achievements in athletics. He highlights the lack of assistance from sports authorities and the burden of living expenses, which affects his training and performance. This situation reflects broader issues faced by athletes in Iran regarding support and resources.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Mehdi Saberi, an Iranian weight throw champion, expressed his financial struggles and lack of support from sports authorities despite his athletic achievements. He highlighted the impact of these issues on his training and performance.
- Saberi pays 7 million tomans in rent each month and bears his own training expenses.
- He has achieved notable success in competitions but feels his performance is hindered by financial stress.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iranian athletes often face financial hardships and lack of institutional support, which can hinder their performance on international stages.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%