TEHRAN - Making a grand comeback, the Iranian men's national taekwondo team snatched the title at the 2024 Asian Taekwondo Championships after eight years. This remarkable victory marks a resurgence of Iranian taekwondo, igniting hopes for a stellar performance at the upcoming Olympics Majid Aflaki praised his team due to the success.

To gain insights into this triumph, we caught up with coach of Iran national team, Majid Aflaki, the mastermind behind the team's impressive transformation.

Aflaki, appointed just seven months before the tournament, embarked on a meticulously crafted plan in collaboration with the technical committee. Their primary goals were twofold: securing Olympic qualification and achieving Asian championship glory. With unwavering determination, they set out to execute their strategy.

“The team underwent rigorous training sessions, exactly fine-tuning their skills and techniques,” said Aflaki in his interview with Tehran Times.

“In a strategic move, Olympic hopefuls were included into the Asian Championship lineup to gain valuable experience and they also increase the team's overall strength,” he added.

“The path to victory was paved by individual brilliance as well as a unified team spirit and unwavering support from the coaching staff and the Iranian Taekwondo Federation. This collaborative effort propelled the team towards their ultimate goal,” he added.

When asked about the main challenges the team faced during their path to glory, coach Aflaki said: “Despite facing biased refereeing and attempts to manipulate medal distribution, particularly in the +87kg category, the Iranian team remained unfazed. The team’s focus and belief in their abilities allowed them to overcome these challenges and emerge victorious.”

The Iranian taekwondo athletes won three gold, three silver and three bronze medals in the competition held in Da Nang, Vietnam.

This triumphant return to the top of Asian taekwondo heralds a new era for the sport in Iran. With the Olympics on the horizon, the team exude confidence and determination to continue their upward trajectory.