Iranian Rower Returns to National Team After Competing for Azerbaijan

WANA (Dec 15) – An Iranian rowing athlete who had previously changed nationality and competed for Azerbaijan has returned to Iran’s national team.

Bahman Nasiri, a former member of Iran’s national rowing team who had switched nationality and represented Azerbaijan in international competitions, has once again joined Iran’s national team.

Nasiri moved to Azerbaijan in 2022 and competed under that country’s flag after changing his nationality. However, he has now returned to Iran and has been invited to the national team training camp.

Nasiri had even secured a quota for the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games, but under Olympic regulations, Iran could send only one athlete between him and Nazanin Molayi. Following Nasiri’s withdrawal, Molayi represented Iran at the Tokyo Olympics. After that decision, Nasiri moved to Azerbaijan.

Speaking about Nasiri’s return to Iran’s national team camps, Mohsen Shadi, head of the Iran Rowing Federation, said: “Bahman Nasiri returned to Iran in May and has not competed for Azerbaijan since then. Therefore, he has been invited to the national team camps. The Russian coach of the men’s national team has previously worked with Bahman Nasiri in Russia and Azerbaijan and has strong confidence in him. ”

He added, “The coach believes that good results can be achieved with Nasiri. His physical condition is ideal, and based on the records he set while competing for Azerbaijan, he is among the top athletes in Asia. We hope he can achieve strong results for Iran as well.”

Last week, Atefeh Ahmadi, a former member of Iran’s national ski team who sought asylum in Germany in 2022, also announced her return to Iran in a post shared on her personal Instagram page.

Atefeh Ahmadi, Iranian Refugee Skier. Social media/ WANA News Agency