Iran’s men’s sitting volleyball team continued their dominance at the Paris 2024 Paralympics by clinching their eighth gold medal in the sport. On day nine of the Games, Iran secured a 3-1 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina to add another title to their illustrious history.
The match showcased the fierce competition between the two teams. Bosnia and Herzegovina took the lead by winning the first set 22-25, but Iran responded strongly, winning the next three sets 30-28, 25-16, and 25-14 to claim the gold. This was the fifth time these teams have met in the Paralympic gold medal match.
Iranian player Meisam Ali Pour praised his team’s performance, saying, “Our team deserved to win this Paralympic gold medal. It was somewhat hard, but it was one of the most interesting matches.” Morteza Mehrzadselakjani, who played a crucial role in Iran’s gold medal wins at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, was the standout performer in the final. Ali Pour lauded Mehrzadselakjani as “one of the most important players in the world,” highlighting his exceptional spiking abilities.
Ali Pour also acknowledged the contributions of Ramezan Salehihajikolaei, noting, “He’s a good setter who sets the ball for Morteza to spike.” The team’s collective effort was crucial in their success.
Bosnia and Herzegovina, despite falling short in the final, celebrated their silver medal as a significant achievement. The team has now won seven consecutive Paralympic men’s sitting volleyball medals, with their silver in Paris marking an improvement from their bronze at Tokyo 2020. Mirzet Duran of Bosnia and Herzegovina expressed pride in their accomplishment, stating, “We are a very small country – about three million people – and we have seven Paralympic medals in only one sport. This is a big achievement for all sport in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
In the bronze medal match, Egypt triumphed over Germany in a thrilling 3-2 contest. The match was intensely competitive, with just six points separating the teams. Egypt emerged victorious after alternating sets (25-22, 23-25, 25-23, 23-25) and securing the fifth set 15-10.
Egypt’s Hesham Elshwikh, who also won bronze at Athens 2004 and Rio 2016, reflected on the hard-fought match, saying, “I’m very happy. It was a very hard match, and we made some mistakes, but I’m very, very happy with my team.” Elshwikh praised his teammates’ resilience, stating, “I’m very lucky to have a team of players who fight all the time – whether they lose or win.”
Germany’s Juergen Schrapp, who has competed in multiple Paralympics, acknowledged the tightness of the contest, remarking, “When you look at the results of the sets, it was as close as it can be. In the end, it was Egypt who deserved it.”
The women’s sitting volleyball finals are scheduled for September 7, with the USA set to face China for gold and Brazil taking on Canada for bronze.
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