Larijani Honors Paralympics Gold Medalists

Tehran, Sept 2, IRNA – Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani congratulated the victory of Iranian disabled and handicapped war veterans athletes who won gold medals in the London 2012 Paralympics Games. The Iranian disabled and the handicapped war veterans athletes are participating in the London 2012 Paralympics Games with the motto of faith in Almighty God, effort and covenant with the Islamic Revolution martyrs and have started the competition with the manifestation of the athletic zealous in the international arena, Larijani wrote in his message on Sunday. He said the victory of Nader Moradi, Jalil Baqeri and Mohsen Kaedi who won the gold medals in men's power lifting, shot put and javelin throw respectively and Sareh Javanmardi who bagged a bronze medal in the women's 10 meter air-pistol event have made the Iranian nation happy. The speaker also expressed hope that the Iranian team could manage to win other shiny medals in the event. Shot putter Jalil Baqeri won Iran’s first gold medal at the Games after throwing 11.63 meters in the men’s F54/55/56 class. This is Baqeri’s second medal in the Paralympics after winning a silver in the discus 8 years ago. Meanwhile, Mohsen Kaedi won the gold in the javelin F35/36 category.The 25-year-old broke his own world’s record with a throw of 38.30m, beating Chinese and Algerian rivals who had to settle for silver and bronze. Away from track and field, Nader Moradi pocketed another gold for Iran in the 60 KG powerlifting category. Moradi managed to lift 192 and 196 kilograms, leaving Nigerian and Chinese rivals trailing in silver and bronze. Iran has sent 79 athletes, competing in 13 events, to the London Paralympics. It currently stands in 13th place in the medal table with three golds and a bronze./end