Ramezan Salehihajikolaei

Started: He began playing volleyball at age 11, and took up sitting volleyball at age 20. (Athlete, 22 Aug 2021, 22 Apr 2012) Reason: A high school teacher encouraged him to try the sport. "From childhood, I had the propensity to play volleyball. All my dreams focused around first having a volleyball ball and then playing." (paralympic.org, 14 Dec 2015) Ambition: To win gold at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (Athlete, 22 Aug 2021) Milestones: He is one of five Iranian sitting volleyball players [along with Davood Alipourian, Isa Zirahi, Jalil Eimeri, and Sadegh Beigdeli] to have won five career Paralympic medals in the sport. (SportsDeskOnline, 01 Jul 2024) Awards: He was named Best Libero in the men's tournament at the 2022 World Championships in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (World ParaVolley Facebook page, 12 Nov 2022) In 2022 he received the Outstanding Achievement award from World ParaVolley. (ParaVolley Asia Oceania Facebook page, 26 Jul 2022) He was named Best Player at the 2019 Asia-Pacific Championships in Thailand. (tasnimnews.com, 15 Jun 2019) He was named Best Receiver at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. (paralympic.org, 14 Dec 2015) He was named Best Defender at the 2012 Intercontinental Cup in Cairo, Egypt. (paralympic.org, 14 Dec 2015) Additional Info: PARALYMPIC GAMES VETERAN He participated in five consecutive editions of the Paralympic Games from Athens 2004 to Tokyo 2020, collecting three gold medals and two silver medals. "I have travelled a path full of ups and downs. I faced mental and emotional challenges, and I was tired and beaten many times, but I was never disappointed. Although having success in various competitions is my sweetest memory, winning the title of Best Libero at world and Asian tournaments is also very valuable to me." (behzisti.ir, 01 Jan 2022)