Sports Desk :
Powerhouses Iran are determined to prove their talents in the 17th Asian Games men’s volleyball competition, winning the continent’s quadrennial sports extravaganza in this South Korea’s port city Incheon.
Iran, reigning two times Asian Champions and world No.11, were due to battle it out with European giants Russia in the fifth place playoff in the FIVB World Men’s Volleyball Championship in Poland. Shortly after the tough match against Russia, Iran, which finished an incredible fourth place in this year’s FIVB World League, will travel to Incheon to make sure they are ready for their first Asiad preliminary match against Hong Kong in Pool C on September 25.
Iran, which won the AVC Cup for Men in the first two editions in 2008 in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand and in 2010 on home soil in Urmia, sent their second string side to the recent 4th AVC Cup for Men in Almaty, Kazakhstan to finish a disappointing fourth there.
Despite a remarkable success in major world-class tournaments, the formidable Iranians have yet won a single gold medal in Asian Games history. Their best performance in the continent’s largest sporting event is second place in three occasions including in 1958 in Tokyo, Japan, 2002 in Busan, South Korea and 2010 in Guangzhou, China.
The team will be spearheaded by hard-attacking Amir Ghafour, who so far has tallied 142 points in the world meet in Poland including 120 spikes and 18 blocks to come in the sixth place among the overall top scorers. The likes of Sayed Mohammad Mousavi Eraghi, who is now leading the blocking skill in the world meet, Mirmouziraji Mojtaba and skillful setter Mir Saeid Marouflakrani also made Iran one of the strongest teams to be reckoned with in Incheon.
However, a serious threat can be expected from hosts South Korea, which came up with an exceptional form to capture the AVC Cup for Men title in Kazakhstan for the first time in history. World No.20 South Korea, which finished a below-par 17th position in the Poland hosted world meet, will field their full-strength team in this Asiad and the home crowd support is expected to give the host side an advantage over their oppositions.
The other strong teams, which can mount strong challenges to Iran are Asian Games title-holders Japan, powerful China, India and Chinese Taipei.
