Iran celebrates watershed moment as it hosts first ever National Biathle Championships 

In another hugely positive sign of the growth of UIPM sports in the Middle East and Asia, the Iranian Pentathlon Association hosted its first ever National Biathle Championships in recent weeks. 

Thanks to strategic support from UIPM development staff, multisports have enjoyed significant growth in Iran in recent years. The 2022 Iran Biathle Championships which took place on March 30 in the capital Tehran. 

The competition attracted 22 competitors and was a very lively affair with Ali Rezvani finishing top of the podium followed by Mohammed Hossein Tayebi in second place and Amin Saghale, who took bronze. 

In spite of significant challenges around the start of the Persian New Year in late March and the beginning of Ramadan on April 4, the Iranian Pentathlon Association successfully gathered the 22 Junior and Senior champions from the previous season from 13 of the country’s 31 provinces. 

Iran Pentathlon Association President Mr. Mahdi Goudarzi has also confirmed that country will, for the first time, be sending teams to the year’s Biathle/Triathle World Championships and the Laser Run World Championships, both of which will take place in Portugal. The UIPM 2022 Laser Run World Championships are being hosted by Lisbon from September 22-25 while the UIPM 2022 Biathle/Triathle World Championships will light up the city of Machico on the Portuguese island of Madeira from October 26-30. 

UIPM Executive Board Member for Development Viacheslav Malyshev (GEO) said: “This historic moment of the inaugural Iran Biathle Championships is a cause for significant celebration for our movement. Continuing to grow our sports in the Middle East and Asia has been a significant goal for our Executive Board and development staff. 

"With that in mind, we are delighted to see this major step forward for our friends in Iran. I congratulate Iran Pentathlon Association President Mr. Mahdi Goudarzi and his team for their efforts and look forward to many exciting developments in the country — and wider region — as the season develops.”