Asia Oceania Wheelchair Basketball Championships:
Iran eager to end 20-year wait for men’s title
Iranian wheelchair basketball team will look to end a 20-year wait for the men’s trophy at the IWBF Asia Oceania Championships, when it gets its campaign underway against China in Bangkok, Thailand, today.
The men’s Division A event features Iran, China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and defending champion Australia – which defeated Iran in last year’s final – and will be held in a round-robin format.
All six teams will be joined by the two highest-ranked Division B teams in the quarterfinal.
Afghanistan, Chinese Taipei, India, Iraq, Kuwait, New Zealand, the Philippines, and Saudi Arabia complete the lineup in the second-tier division.
The tournament serves as a qualifier for the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games, with both finalists also securing spots at next year’s World Championship in Ottawa, Canada.
“Our goal is to reclaim the Asian title after 20 years. It’s a tough challenge, of course, with Australia and Japan – winners of multiple Paralympic medals – in the mix,” Iran head coach Reza Soltani told ISNA.
“However, Iran is a different team and in a strong position, especially with our overseas professional players, who compete in top-notch leagues abroad. We are hopeful that by winning the title, we will also secure our spot in the World Championship.”
Iran will face Japan on Sunday, before playing on Australia, South Korea, and Thailand, respectively, until Wednesday.
In the women’s competition, meanwhile, Iran will compete against Cambodia, India, Laos, the Philippines, and Thailand in the single round-robin Division B, with the top team of the table joining Division A trio Australia, Japan, and China in the semifinals.