Iranian weightlifter Ali Alipour captured the gold medal in the men’s 95kg category at the 2026 Asian Games. Alipour delivered a world-class performance across both disciplines at the continental tournament in Nagoya. He lifted 180kg in the snatch before completing a 218kg lift in the clean and jerk. His combined total of 398kg established a new world record and earned him the championship title.
The intense competition featured remarkable performances from top weightlifters representing several Asian nations. Kazakhstan’s Nurgissa Adiletuly claimed the silver medal after securing a combined total of 394kg. Similarly, China’s Yi Tu earned the bronze medal after matching the 394kg total. However, Alipour’s final clean and jerk lift created the critical separation required for overall victory.
Alipour’s gold medal marks the eighth gold medal for the Iranian delegation at the Games. Furthermore, his dominant performance continues Iran’s strong tradition in international weightlifting competitions. The landmark result provided a major boost to the national team’s overall standing in Nagoya. Consequently, technical officials praised the squad’s preparation and physical conditioning during the high-stakes lifting sessions.
The achievement closely follows earlier historic milestones achieved by Iranian lifters during the same competition. Reyhaneh Karimi became the first Iranian woman to win an Asian Games weightlifting medal. Karimi secured a historic bronze medal in her category, setting a precedent for female athletes. Meanwhile, teammate Mir Mostafa Javadi finished fifth in the men’s 85kg weightlifting event.
Iranian athletes across multiple sports disciplines aim to build on this momentum. National coaches expect additional podium finishes as the remaining weightlifting categories begin in the coming days. Furthermore, sports analysts view these record-breaking performances as strong indicators for future international competitions. Thus, Iran remains a strong contender as continental action continues throughout the Nagoya Games.