Iran celebrates first ever Olympic medal for woman athlete
Tehran, Aug 21 (IANS) The streets of the Iranian capital here were abuzz on Sunday over Taekwondo fighter Kimia Alizadeh, who won a bronze medal in the Rio Olympics.
Alizadeh, 18, defeated Nikita Glasnovic of Sweden in the women’s 57 kg division on Friday and grabbed bronze, making her the first Iranian woman ever to win an Olympic medal, reports Efe.
In Tehran, pedestrians and motorists moved past a giant billboard commemorating Alizadeh’s achievement, which showed her image on one side and a congratulatory message on the other.
“We congratulate our Iranian taekwondo woman fighter who won the bronze medal in Rio,” the message read in Farsi.
The mood on the internet and on social media in Iran has reportedly been upbeat and full of positive reactions that a woman won an Olympic medal.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani posted a message on Twitter on Saturday celebrating the Alizadeh’s win: “My daughter, Kimia, you made all Iranians, especially women of your nation this happy, I wish everlasting happiness for you.”
Iran has sent 64 athletes, mostly men, to the Rio Olympics who have been competing across 15 sports, according to the official website of the Rio Olympics.
