Rayhaneh Arani has become the first female Iranian athlete to clinch a medal in the junior women’s competitions for the Islamic Republic, earning a bronze at the 18th edition of Asian Junior Athletics Championships in Japan.
Arani hurled the hammer to a distance of 55.46 meters in the central Japanese city of Gifu to beat the previous national junior record, and claim the third spot in the continental tournament.
Zhou Mengyuan and Li Jiangyan, both from China, finished in the first and second positions, recording 64.81 and 61.44 meters respectively.
A Japanese athlete came fourth, and a representative from Qatar sat in the fifth slot.
The 18th edition of Asian Junior Athletics Championships kicked off on June 7, and will run through June 10, 2018.