By Author 05 January, 2024 IT Solutions

Iran’s National Obstacle Sports Team Misses the 2026 World Championships

.Uncertainty over the status of the OSAIRI Obstacle Committee of the Islamic Republic of Iran within UIPM resulted in the cancellation of Iran’s national team participation in the 2nd UIPM World Obstacle Championships
The National Team of OCR Obstacle Sport of the Islamic Republic of Iran O-Sport Association (OSAIRI), despite having received the approval and authorization of the Foreign Sports Council of I.R. Iran Ministry of Sports & Youth (Iranian NSA) on 18 August 2026, ultimately was unable to participate in the 2nd UIPM Obstacle Sports World Championships 2026
This decision was taken by the OSAIRI Board of Directors, following concerns and uncertainties regarding the national status of the Association’s OCR Committee, the unresolved situation surrounding the championship sector, as well as the change in approach adopted by the National Olympic Committee of the Islamic Republic of Iran (Iranian NOC) in recent months. This shift in approach has gradually become more evident, particularly following the completion of the integration process between FISO and UIPM in relation to OSAIRI, which has, for more than a decade, served as the sole national legally recognized and officially .responsible body for Obstacle Sports in Iran
It is worth noting that, for more than a decade and across successive periods, the Islamic Republic of O-Sport Association of I.R. Iran has benefited from the support of the National Olympic Committee of the Islamic Republic of Iran (Iranian NOC) and, within the country’s official sports structure, has assumed responsibility for the development, promotion, and organization of Obstacle Sports and all related disciplines in Iran

The FISO–UIPM Integration Process

According to Fardous Meraqi, Secretary General of the O-Sport Association of the Islamic Republic of Iran, following international decisions concerning the removal of equestrian from the Modern Pentathlon programme and efforts to preserve Modern Pentathlon within the Summer Olympic Games programme, the process of cooperation and integration between the International Federation of Obstacle Sports (FISO), its strategic partners, and the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) began in 2022.
Within this framework, part of the obstacle sports structure was incorporated into the UIPM structure, while national FISO members during the transition period were placed under the status of Member Candidate. According to the Association, this status is clearly defined at the international level, but has been unprecedented and accompanied by uncertainties at the domestic level and in its interaction with the Ministry of Sport and Youth.
The O-Sport Association of the Islamic Republic of Iran emphasizes that the designation Member Candidate does not mean “an applicant for future membership” or that an entity has no membership status. Rather, it represents a specific status within the transition and integration process of national FISO members into the new UIPM structure.

According to Meraqi, approximately 45 countries have been placed under this status, while the scope and rights associated with it—including eligibility to participate in international events and World and Continental Championships—are subject to UIPM regulations and approval by the relevant UIPM authorities.
Not All Governing Bodies and Disciplines of Obstacle Sports Were Covered by the FISO–UIPM Integration
Meraqi, a member of the Technical Committee of the O-Sport Association of the Islamic Republic of Iran, stated that the FISO–UIPM integration process did not encompass all disciplines and formats of obstacle sports. Instead, it focused on obstacle-crossing disciplines, including OCR, Ninja, and Adventure Racing.
According to these explanations, the international Adventure Racing structure withdrew from the relevant protocol before the integration process was finalized and has continued to pursue its own independent path in international activities.
Disciplines and formats such as Chase Tag, Hybrid Racing, Fitness Racing, DEKA, Spartan, beach formats, and combined formats also continue to operate under their respective international and continental structures and governing bodies.
Meraqi also referred to a newly established and independent international organization known as OCRathlon, and stated that, like the Asian Obstacle Sports Federation (AOSF), it continues its activities outside the FISO–UIPM integration protocol.
Iran’s International Record

Meraqi, coach of the national obstacle sports team of the O-Sport Association of the Islamic Republic of Iran, stated that OSAIRI is one of the oldest officially recognized national organizations in the world of obstacle sports. He said that OSAIRI became a member of FISO in 1400 (2021/22) and, by presenting its Obstacle .Sports Committee to domestic authorities, including the Ministry of Sport and Youth and the National Olympic Committee of Iran, played an important role within the international FISO obstacle sports structure and its related disciplines
He added that even before the establishment of FISO, the O-Sport Association had been responsible for obstacle sports activities and their related disciplines in Iran, and that over the years it had repeatedly hosted international and continental events and participated in World Championships in obstacle sports, obstacle combat, and beach disciplines at various locations around the world.

.Meraqi stated: “From 2014 to 2019, more than 75 continental and world medals were won by the Association’s male and female national-team athletes in international obstacle sports events”
.According to him, these medals were achieved at events including the 2015 Asian Championships in Hamedan, the 2016 Asian Championships in Isfahan, the 2015 and 2016 World Championships in Antalya, the 2017 World Championships in Kemer, and the 2018 World Cup in Hamedan
Among the recent recorded achievements of Iranian athletes, he referred to the participation of Iran’s five-member men’s team at the 2023 World Championship in Russia in Chase Tag, as well as Sarina Faghirabadi’s silver medal at the first World Obstacle Sports Championship in the OCR discipline under the new UIPM structure, in the women’s U17 category in Beijing in 2025.

.He also highlighted Nazanin Hejazi Ravari’s runner-up finish at the 2024 FISO Asian Championships in Malaysia in the 100-metre Ninja format, along with world medals won by Masoumeh Hassan-Aghdam and Zahra Jahanshahi at the 2024 FISO competitions
.In the men’s category, Mohammad Jafaripour has won the gold medal in the 21-kilometre endurance event at the 2023 Spartan World Championship and a bronze medal in the 5-kilometre endurance event at the 2024 FISO World Championships in Dubai
.According to Meraqi, Abbas Heydarzadeh won the gold medal in the 1500 metres at the 2024 FISO World Championships in Dubai, while Kasra Bahrami won the bronze medal in the same event
.Meraqi also referred to the Asian Ninja Championship in obstacle sports, held in conjunction with the International Humanitarian Games in Kermanshah in 2025, where Iranian athletes won a number of medals across different categorie

37 National Events and Thousands of Active Athletes

.In addition to its international record, the O-Sport Association has established an extensive network of organized obstacle sports activities inside Iran
.Referring to the Association’s domestic activities, Meraqi stated: “To date, 37 national obstacle sports events in various disciplines and formats have been successfully organized and held by OSAIRI in different cities and regions of the country, including Hamedan, Anzali Free Zone, Kermanshah, and Sari”
.He added: “Thousands of athletes across different obstacle sports formats, from youth categories to senior level, are active under the supervision of 604 coaches and referees affiliated with the Association”
According to Meraqi, the multi-sport hybrid association continues its activities under the ongoing management and supervision of Dr. Mohammad Ghasem Manouchehri, and over the years has pursued human-resource development, competition organization, talent identification, and athlete preparation across various obstacle sports formats.
From the Association’s perspective, this structure is not merely a competition-organizing body, but rather a hybrid sports ecosystem comprising athletes, coaches, referees, and operational personnel working across different age categories
.Iran’s Role in the Development of Obstacle Sports in the Region

.Meraqi also stated that the capacity developed in Iran over the years, supported by an Elite Training Camp Centre covering an area of five hectares in Hamedan and the Iranian Institute of Non-Commercial Obstacle Sports, has created opportunities for educational and technical cooperation with countries across the region
.He said: “Over the years, athletes, coaches, and sports professionals from most countries in the region have travelled to Iran to learn the science, techniques, and training methodologies of obstacle sports and to benefit from the experience and expertise of specialists in this field”
.Meraqi continued: “These interactions have enabled Iran and the O-Sport Association to play a significant role in the development and transfer of knowledge in obstacle sports and their related disciplines, both in the region and internationally”
Referring to the long-standing role of Dr. Mohammad Ghasem Manouchehri in founding and developing obstacle sports in Iran, he added: “Considering his long-standing experience in multi-level hybrid sports, as well as in the development and education of obstacle sports and the transfer of experience to countries across .the region, Dr. Manouchehri can be regarded as one of the influential founding figures and the spiritual father of obstacle sports in Central and Western Asia”
According to Meraqi, the relationships established between the O-Sport Association and countries in the region remain active, with sports professionals from these countries continuing to communicate and cooperate with Dr. Manouchehri and the organization under his management on technical, educational, and .developmental matters related to obstacle sports

Cancellation of the Team’s Participation at the Final Stage

.In view of this background, the National Teams Organization of the O-Sport Association had planned to send Iran’s senior men’s team to compete in the 3000-metre and 400-metre events at the 2nd World Obstacle Sports Championships, featuring an Olympic-format OCR programme
.Despite prior planning and the athletes’ readiness, the national team’s participation was ultimately cancelled at the final stage
The O-Sport Association cited uncertainties surrounding the national status of its Obstacle Sports Committee, the status of elite-level competition activities, and the change in approach of the National Olympic Committee of the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding the completion of the FISO–UIPM integration process as the reasons for the decision
.As a result, the Iranian athletes who had prepared to compete at the 2026 World Championships lost the opportunity to participate in this edition of the competition

Iran’s National Obstacle Sports Team Misses the 2026 World Championships
.Uncertainty over the status of the OSAIRI Obstacle Committee of the Islamic Republic of Iran within UIPM resulted in the cancellation of Iran’s national team participation in the 2nd UIPM World Obstacle Championships
The National Team of OCR Obstacle Sport of the Islamic Republic of Iran O-Sport Association (OSAIRI), despite having received the approval and authorization of the Foreign Sports Council of I.R. Iran Ministry of Sports & Youth (Iranian NSA) on 18 August 2026, ultimately was unable to participate in the 2nd UIPM Obstacle .Sports World Championships 2026
This decision was taken by the OSAIRI Board of Directors, following concerns and uncertainties regarding the national status of the Association’s OCR Committee, the unresolved situation surrounding the championship sector, as well as the change in approach adopted by the National Olympic Committee of the Islamic Republic of Iran (Iranian NOC) in recent months. This shift in approach has gradually become more evident, particularly following the completion of the integration process between FISO and UIPM in relation to OSAIRI, which has, for more than a decade, served as the sole national legally recognized and officially .responsible body for Obstacle Sports in Iran
It is worth noting that, for more than a decade and across successive periods, the Islamic Republic of O-Sport Association of I.R. Iran has benefited from the support of the National Olympic Committee of the Islamic Republic of Iran (Iranian NOC) and, within the country’s official sports structure, has assumed responsibility for the development, promotion, and organization of Obstacle Sports and all related disciplines in Iran