Iran's sitting volleyball team cruises into Rio 2016 Paralympics final
Iran's sitting volleyball players have managed to book a place in the final fixture of the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, following a sweeping victory over the hosts.
On Friday evening, the Iranian squad achieved a remarkable 3-0 win, with set scores of 25-20, 25-19 and 25-17, against the Brazilian side at the massive Riocentro - Pavilion 6 indoor stadium.
The Iranian players had defeated the Netherlands 3-2, with set scores of 25-21, 25-13, 23-25, 15-25 and 15-13, in their quarterfinal match the previous day.
They are scheduled to play against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the title clash of the tournament on Sunday.
“Our players deserve to clinch the championship, since they have been fairly determined in their showdowns against opposite sides. Yet, odds are likely to happen when it comes to sports. I make no promise of earning the championship, but we will do our best to defeat Bosnia,” Iran's head coach Hadi Rezaei said.
“[The Iranian] players really made a deal of efforts in this edition of the [Paralympic] Games, and exhibited fine performances. The London [2012 Paralympics] final was a happening, which I hope that it will not be repeated in Rio. We still cannot get along with the defeat sustained at the hands of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Iran’s captain Davood Alipourian said.
Iranian athletes have so far clinched 21 medals, seven golds, eight silvers and six bronzes, and the Islamic Republic is in the 16th slot of the medal count table.
China is on top of the medal count table with 217 medals: 94 golds, 74 silvers and 49 bronzes.
Britain has claimed the second spot with 126 medals: 58 golds, 33 silvers, 35 bronzes, and Ukraine is on the third with a total of 106 medals: 38 golds, 33 silvers and 35 bronzes.
The United States, Australia, Brazil, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland and Italy are in the 4th to 10th places respectively.
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