Iranian volleyball star Saber Kazemi dies aged 26
Iranian international volleyball player Saber Kazemi passed away at the age of 26 in Tehran’s Payambaran Hospital on Wednesday.
Kazemi, who had joined Al Rayyan for the new season of the Qatari Volleyball League, had been in a coma since October 17 after suffering a severe brain complication while recovering in a hotel pool in Doha.
The Iranian Volleyball Federation transferred him to Tehran on October 27, but despite the Iranian medical team’s relentless efforts, the left-handed opposite spiker was declared brain dead in the early hours of Wednesday.
“It is with profound sorrow and grief that we extend our heartfelt condolences on the passing of dear Saber, a valued member of the Iranian national volleyball team,” the national governing body of the sport said in a statement.
“We pray to Almighty God to grant him eternal mercy and forgiveness, and to bestow patience and strength upon his family and loved ones.”
The exact cause of the incident remains unclear. Initial reports pointed to electrocution in the water, but his club Al Rayyan suggested the possibility of a cardiac issue. Another theory later emerged, claiming he had suffered muscle cramps in the water, though this was denied a few days later by the Iranian Volleyball Federation and his attending doctors.
Born in Aq Qala, northeastern Iran, Kazemi made his international debut at the 2018 Volleyball Nations League.
He was a two-time gold medalist at the Asian Games in 2018 and 2023, and was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament when Iran won the Asian Championship title in 2021.
Kazemi also represented the national team at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and was part of the silver-winning squad at the 2023 Asian Championship in Urmia, Iran.
A former player of Turkey’s Ziraat Bankası SK and Qatar’s Al Arabi, Kazemi delivered an MVP performance to lead Foolad Sirjan to the Asian Club Championship title in 2021.