Arsalan Kazemi, forward for the Iranian national basketball team, highly praised his teammates after Iran secured the bronze medal at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan. He emphasized how challenging the two-month campaign was for the team and the number of injuries they had to overcome.
After defeating China in the bronze medal match, Kazemi stated that the team went through an extremely tense period during which many players struggled with injuries. He noted: 'Honestly, I am just grateful. We went through two very tough months.'
Kazemi spoke about roster issues, mentioning that Ali Sharifi could not participate in the game, Matin Aghajanour suffered from severe back pain, and Peter Girgurian played despite an injury. Nevertheless, he stressed that every player demonstrated immense dedication on the court.
The forward admitted that he wanted Iran to beat South Korea in the semi-finals and believed the team could have won under different circumstances. He added: 'I really wanted us to beat South Korea. I think if we played them again, we could win, but that night just wasn't ours.' He explained this by citing statistics, noting that scoring only two out of thirty three-point attempts, while opponents hit 50% from beyond the arc, makes winning very difficult.
The veteran also responded to criticism directed at the team and head coach Sotiris Manolopoulos. Kazemi stated that constructive criticism is always welcome, but believes some of the feedback received was unfair. He emphasized his openness to criticism if it is logical and constructive, but feels some statements were unreasonable.
He also defended Manolopoulos, urging critics to consider the overall situation surrounding the team. Kazemi noted that the coach provides all necessary pre-match instructions and conducts the proper analysis. However, he clarified that the coach's responsibility ends once he steps onto the court and does not follow the planned game strategy.
Kazemi mentioned that the team has faced significant criticism over the past two years, despite positive results at the FIBA Asia Cup and now at the Asian Games. He shared the feeling that sometimes people did not want to support the team, but they managed to win a medal despite all the pressure and circumstances.
The physical and emotional strain of the campaign affected him, as Kazemi reported being away from his family for almost six weeks. He noted that a month and a half without communicating with family creates an enormous psychological burden for an athlete.
Kazemi was particularly proud that Iran won the first medal for the Iranian delegation at the Games. Although they aimed for gold or silver, they unfortunately failed to achieve it. He dedicated the bronze medal to the people of Iran and praised his teammates for their resilience.
