The Iranian men's sitting volleyball team once again demonstrated its dominant position in the sport by defeating Bosnia and Herzegovina 3-1 in the final of the Sitting Volleyball World Championship in Hangzhou. This victory allowed Iran to win its ninth world title, breaking its own record.
The final match took place on Friday in Hangzhou. Under the guidance of head coach Hadi Rezaei, the Iranian team secured a confident 3-1 victory (25-21, 25-20, 20-25, 25-16).
This triumph further strengthens Iran's status as the most decorated team in the history of the World Championships. The Iranian squad, which included Meysam Hajbabai, Sadegh Bigdeli, Hamidreza Abbasi, Mehdi Babadi, Ali Akbari, Davoud Alipurian, Hossein Golestani, Masoud Emami, Mohammad Nemati, Jamal Nazari, Meysam Alipour, and Mortezah Mehrad, remained undefeated throughout the tournament.
Thanks to Rezaei's leadership, Iran not only lifted the world cup but also secured a spot at the Los Angeles Paralympics in 2028. This latest success is yet another bright confirmation that Iran remains the undisputed leader in men's sitting volleyball.
At the 2026 Sitting Volleyball World Championship, the Iranian men's national team secured its fifth victory by defeating the USA team in three consecutive sets with scores of 25-21, 25-15, and 25-16 on Wednesday.
The Iranian team previously defeated Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Japan, and Croatia. On Thursday, Iran will play against Kazakhstan in the tournament semi-finals.
Earlier that day, the women's team lost to Canada with a score of 3-0 (25-19, 25-22, 25-22) and consequently failed to qualify for the Four Final. The World Championship is being held at the World ParaVolley Development Centre and includes 16 men's and 16 women's teams.
This tournament is the first opportunity for teams to secure qualification for the LA28 Paralympic Games, as the champions among men and women receive direct spots in the competition.
The Iranian men's national sitting volleyball team demonstrated an impressive start to its preparation for the World Championship by defeating Egypt in a friendly match held the day before the tournament in China.
The Iranian team confidently beat Egypt with a score of 3:0, winning in sets 25-16, 25-19, and 25-14.
The 2026 Sitting Volleyball World Championship will take place in Hangzhou, China, from July 10 to July 17. Iran will begin its campaign against Poland on Friday; the match is scheduled for 9:00 local time.
Before the main tournament begins, Iran will play two more preparatory matches against Brazil and Germany to fine-tune its preparation for the global competition. Meanwhile, the Iranian women's national sitting volleyball team is also preparing to fly to Hangzhou on Wednesday to participate in the World Championship.
