Fereshteh Hassanzadeh, an Iranian women’s national Muay Thai athlete, won the silver medal at the 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games — but she says the heartfelt message she received from Ayatollah Khamenei afterward was more precious than any podium finish.
A Hard-Fought Path to the Final
Fereshteh Hassanzadeh competed in the 45–50 kg weight class at the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and reached the Muay Thai final after two strong victories. In the final bout, she faced Morocco’s Kaltoumi Akhlouf. Despite giving her all, she lost each round 10–9, ending with a score of 30–27 in favor of her opponent — and secured the silver medal.
Setting Medal Ambitions Aside
In an interview after the final, Hassanzadeh expressed that she had hoped to win gold — not only for herself, but to dedicate it to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran. On top of that, she said she hoped he would accept her silver medal if gold was out of reach. For her, it wasn’t just about standing atop the podium — it was about representing her country and honoring her leader.
A Powerful Response from the Leader
Much to her gratitude and surprise, Ayatollah Khamenei personally responded to her message within 48 hours. In his letter, he expressed his deep appreciation not merely for her sporting achievement, but, more importantly, for her unwavering spirit. He wrote:
“My daughter, what matters most to me is not a gold medal, but rather your resolve, efforts, faith, and self-confidence.”
More Than Just a Medal
For Hassanzadeh, that message was the highlight of her journey. She described it as a greater honor than any medal could bring: being seen and valued by the Supreme Leader meant more than gold. She shared the correspondence on her Instagram page, telling her followers how deeply honored she felt.
Reflecting on the competition, she said the level of skill was extremely high — only athletes with previous world or Asian medals were permitted to take part, making the field “very professional.” Her determination throughout three bouts — including against opponents from Uzbekistan, Lebanon, and Morocco — demonstrated her resilience and talent.
From: SNN