Iranian Rower Wins Asian Games Gold After Training Through Bombing Raids

Kimia Zarei trained for the Asian Games inside her home using an indoor rowing machine while explosions echoed outside and smoke filled the sky. Conflict broke out across Iran six months before the competition, forcing the national sports federation to cancel training camps and send athletes away from communal facilities.

The Training Routine

For 45 days, Zarei stayed indoors in Hamadan, covering about 20 kilometres daily on her ergometer while following schedules sent remotely by her coach. She and teammate Zeinab Norouzi later teamed up to secure the gold medal in the women's lightweight double sculls at Nagoya. Federation chief Mohsen Shadi Naghadeh noted that providing indoor machines helped athletes demonstrate resilience despite severe disruptions. Other squads faced similar hurdles, including the women's kabaddi team, which relocated multiple times before practicing in Sonepat, India.

Past Disappointments

The victory marked a major turnaround from the Hangzhou Asian Games three years prior, where Zarei finished fourth as the sole member of Iran's rowing contingent to miss out on a podium finish. After crossing the finish line, she broke down in tears, dedicating the medal to her family, her supporters, and young women across her country.