Barshim was voted International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Athlete of the Year in 2017 after winning the high jump at the IAAF World Championships. 

He will be chasing a fifth title at the Asian Indoor Championships at the Aftab-e Enqelab Sports Complex having previously won at Tehran in 2010, Hangzhou in China in 2012 and 2014 and Doha in 2016. 

The event will be an important of Barshim's preparations for the IAAF World Indoor Championships, due to take place in Birmingham between March 1 and 4.

He will he hoping to regain the title he last won at Sopot in 2014. 

This will be the eighth edition of the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships and the third time they have been held in Iran's capital having previously staged them in 2004 and 2010. 

Iran have named a 39-athlete squad for the Championships, with their preparations having been honed at a training camp in Urmia.

Bangladesh are among the nations to have been in the country for a couple of days, as they prepare for the event.

They will be represented by a five-member team.

Pakistan have also named a small five athlete squad, but several larger delegations among the 18 countries taking part are expected to be present.

This will include China and Kazakhstan, currently top the all-time medals table from the continental event.

Competition is due to conclude on Saturday (February 3).