Iran’s Tayebi wins Asian Games shot put gold after 52-year wait

Nagoya, IRNA – Iranian shot putter Mohammadreza Tayebi won the men’s gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, with a throw of 20.81 meters, breaking the Games record and ending a 52-year wait for Iran in the event.

Tayebi’s throw secured his first Asian Games gold and gave Iran its seventh gold medal of the Nagoya Games. It was also only the second men’s shot put gold for Iran in Asian Games history.

The last Iranian to win the Asian Games men’s shot put title was the late Jalal Keshmiri, who took gold at the 1974 Asian Games in Tehran.