Iran fails to snag final berth in INAS World Futsal Championships

The Iranian men’s national futsal team has failed to clinch a berth in the final showdown of the fifth edition of International Sports Federation for Persons with Intellectual Disability (INAS) World Futsal Championships in Portugal, but has the chance to finish on a high in the third-place play-off.

On Thursday, the Iranian team went down to a 4-6 defeat against the French squad in a semifinal encounter at Vila Nova de Gaia in the central Portuguese city of Viseu, and could not advance to the title game.

The Iranians had been held to a three-all draw against the Portuguese team the previous day, and found a place in the semifinal round of the tournament.

The Iranian futsal team routed South Africa 6-3 in its second preliminary round game on Tuesday.

The Iranian sportsmen had downed Argentina 6-3 in their opening match on April 10.

The Iranian men’s national futsal team will take on the Russian team in the third-place play-off on Friday.

The Iranian men’s national futsal team comprises Mohammad Reza Takhsha, Ali Makhtout, Behzad Amani, Mohsen Dolati, Nosrat Kasheffar, Qodrat Kasheffar, Ali Asghar Hosseinzadeh, Mehdi Molayari, Hamid Reza Mohsen Saboktakin, Qader Al-e-Nasser and Abdulali Barihi.

The fifth edition of INAS World Futsal Championships started in Viseu, Portugal, on April 8, and will finish on April 15, 2017.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk