News / Sports

Iran wheelchair basketball team snags World Championship berth

Saturday, 28 January 2017 8:48 AM [ Last Update: Saturday, 28 January 2017 8:48 AM ]

Iran national under-23 wheelchair basketball team (file photo)

Iran national under-23 wheelchair basketball team will be taking part in the 2017 International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) Men's Under-23 World Championship in Canada later this year, after a narrow qualification win over Austria.

The Persians defeated their Australian counterparts 64-59 in a semi-final match of the Asia-Oceania qualifying tournament in the Thai capital city of Bangkok on Friday, and advanced to the final match.

Earlier in the day, Japan had registered a 61-37 victory over the host team.

Iran under-23 wheelchair basketball team will play Japan in the title showdown on Saturday afternoon.

Six countries, namely Australia, China, India, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan and Thailand, have taken part in the Asia-Oceania qualifying tournament for the IWBF Under-23 World Championship.

Australia, Iran and Japan will represent the Asia-Oceania zone at the world championship.

The IWBF Under-23 World Championship, which is held every four years, will be in its sixth edition.

The tournament will take place between June 8 and 16 at the Mattamy Athletic Center in the Canadian city of Toronto.

The IWBF is the international governing body responsible for wheelchair basketball. It is a non-profit organization, whose purpose is to provide opportunities for persons with a disability to play the game of wheelchair basketball.

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