TEHRAN – Iran’s Elias Parhizkar has delivered an outstanding performance in the judo competition, securing the first gold medal for the Iranian delegation at the Open Cup of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Moscow, Russia.
Elias Parhizkar won the gold medal at the SCO Open on Sunday.
In the -81kg weight category, Parhizkar defeated an opponent from Russia in the semifinals before overcoming a judoka from Tajikistan in the final. By clinching the championship title, he secured the first gold medal for the Iranian delegation in this tournament.
Additionally, Amir-Abbas Movahed won a bronze medal in the heavyweight division.
Iran has sent a 70-member delegation to compete in six disciplines: sport climbing, judo, weightlifting, artistic gymnastics, chess and table tennis.
The competition features 11 sports: table tennis, trampoline gymnastics, sambo, sport climbing, artistic gymnastics, weightlifting, fencing, rhythmic gymnastics, chess, judo and wushu.
The competitions will run until 23 November, with more than 100 medals to be awarded in 11 sports. The next highlight will be the traditional Kunming SCO Marathon, to be held in China on 6 December, 2026.