Mojtaba Abedini
Mojtaba Abedini Shourmasti | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 11, 1984 Tehran, Iran |
| Occupation(s) | Sabre fencer, fencing coach |
| Known for | First Iranian fencer to win a medal at World Fencing Championships; Olympic competitor (2012, 2016, 2020) |
Mojtaba Abedini Shourmasti (; born 11 August 1984) is an Iranian sabre fencer who has represented his country in three separate Olympic competitions. He made history by winning a bronze medal at the 2019 World Fencing Championships, becoming the first Iranian athlete to achieve a podium finish at this championship.
Early life
Born in Tehran, Iran, Abedini earned a master's degree in Sport Administration and Management from the University of Tehran in 2014. He is proficient in both English and Persian. He is married to Narges Faal, and together they have two daughters.
Fencing career
At the 2019 World Fencing Championships held in Budapest, Abedini claimed a bronze medal, marking a historic milestone as Iran’s inaugural fencing medal at this level. His qualification for the men's sabre event at the 2012 Summer Olympics came via a zonal tournament in Wakayama City, Japan, making him the first Iranian fencer to participate in the Olympic Games. He concluded that competition ranked 37th after being eliminated in the opening round.
During the 2016 Summer Olympics, Abedini achieved a fourth-place finish in men’s individual sabre. He progressed to the semifinals but was defeated by American fencer Daryl Homer, then narrowly missed out on bronze after losing to South Korea’s Kim Jung-hwan. At the 2020 Summer Olympics, he finished 11th individually and led Iran’s team as captain during their debut Olympic appearance in sabre, where they placed sixth.
Since 2021, Abedini has taken on the role of head coach for Iran’s national youth fencing squad.
In response to the controversial death of Mahsa Amini in September 2022 related to Iran's morality police, Abedini resigned from the national team. He expressed his support for Iranian citizens and showed respect for women and his nation with the following statement:
"Whenever I represented the national team, I did so wholeheartedly... Now, out of respect for women and my country, I must say farewell to the Iranian national team permanently."
See also
External links
- 1984 births
- Living people
- Asian Games silver medalists for Iran
- Asian Games silver medalists in fencing
- Sportspeople from Babol
- Fencers at the 2012 Summer Olympics
- Fencers at the 2016 Summer Olympics
- Fencers at the 2020 Summer Olympics
- Fencers at the 2006 Asian Games
- Fencers at the 2010 Asian Games
- Fencers at the 2014 Asian Games
- Fencers at the 2018 Asian Games
- Iranian male sabre fencers
- Medalists at the 2014 Asian Games
- Medalists at the 2018 Asian Games
- Olympic fencers for Iran
- University of Tehran alumni
- 21st-century Iranian sportsmen
- Islamic Solidarity Games gold medalists for Iran
- Islamic Solidarity Games silver medalists for Iran