Iran is sending a smaller delegation to the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games than in the previous edition ©Getty Images

Iran is set to send a smaller athlete delegation to compete at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games than they did at the 2018 edition.

The country finished sixth overall at Jakarta-Palembang with 20 gold, 20 silver and 22 bronze medals.

A total of 378 athletes represented Iran but National Olympic Committee of the Islamic Republic of Iran President Mahmoud Khosravi Vafa is opting for a policy of quality over quantity at the upcoming event.

"Iran will compete at the 2022 Asian Games with a smaller delegation but we send the athletes who have more chance of winning medals," he said, as reported by the Tehran Times.

"The Iranian delegation is looking for a better place in the Games and the federations should help us to reach our goal.

"We will also have a special look at our women athletes in the 2022 Asian Games."

Iran finished sixth overall at Jakarta-Palembang 2018 with 20 gold, 20 silver and 22 bronze medals ©Getty Images
Iran finished sixth overall at Jakarta-Palembang 2018 with 20 gold, 20 silver and 22 bronze medals ©Getty Images

Iran has competed at every edition of the Summer Asian Games except for Manila 1954, Jakarta 1962, and Bangkok 1978.

Its best performance came at the home Games of 1974 in Tehran when the team came second overall with 36 gold, 28 silver, and 17 gold medals.

Hangzhou is due to be the third Chinese city to host the Asian Games, after Beijing in 1990 and Guangzhou in 2010.

The event was originally scheduled to take place from September 10 to 25 last year but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

New dates were then announced, with the Games to be held from September 23 to October 8 2023.