WANA (Oct 29) – Mahsa Shakibaei claimed the gold medal at the Asian Youth Games after defeating Kazakhstan’s representative with an ippon (technical knockout).

 

Competing in the under-48 kg weight category, the Iranian judoka overpowered Alua Baltabai of Kazakhstan in the final bout to secure the top podium spot.

 

On her way to gold, Shakibaei eliminated competitors from Indonesia, Jordan, India, and Kazakhstan—showcasing both her technical skill and composure throughout the tournament.

 

Mahsa Shakibaei is now being hailed as a rising star in Iranian judo. For years, Iran’s judo had fallen behind Asia’s top ranks, but her victory could mark the beginning of a new era for the sport in the country. Even at this stage, Shakibaei’s achievement is historic: never before had Iran’s women’s judo won a medal—let alone gold—at an Asian-level competition.

 

Meanwhile, representatives from Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan claimed the joint bronze medals after defeating judokas from Uzbekistan and India, respectively.