Asian Beach Games: Iran off the mark as Ajami wins shot put gold
Hassan Ajami claimed the first medal for Iran at the Asian Beach Games in Sanya, China, grabbing gold in the men’s shot put event on Sunday.
The 27-year-old Iranian saved his best for last on Phoenix Island, registering a personal-best 20.17m with his sixth and final attempt to secure the top prize. China’s Chen Chengyu settled for silver with 19.95m, while his compatriot Zhang Haochen took bronze with 19.69m. Mehran Khorand was the other Iranian in the men’s shot put final but missed out on the podium, finishing fifth with a best effort of 17.63m.
Dominant duos
There was further success for the country on the sixth day of the multi-sport event as both Iranian pairs advanced to the men’s beach volleyball quarterfinals.
The team of Alireza Aqajani and Abbas Pourasgari continued its emphatic run with a straight-sets victory over Japan’s Kosuke Fukushima and Nassim Malki. The Iranian pair won the first set 21-15 before closing out with a 21-17 win in the second – a fifth successive victory for the duo, which is yet to drop a set in Sanya.
Standing between the two Iranians and a last-four place today will be Oman’s Mazin Al Hashimi and Hood Rashid Al Jalaboubi, who defeated Kazakhstan’s Dmitriy Yakovlev and Abdulmajid Mokhammad 2-0 (21-15, 21-19) later on Sunday to progress.
Abolhassan Khakizadeh and Amirali Qalenovi, meanwhile, secured the country’s second last-eight spot later, thanks to a 2-0 win (21-18, 21-15) against China’s Wang Yanwei and Wu Jiaxin.
Elsewhere, the Iranian men’s beach handball team secured back-to-back victories on Sunday to maintain its perfect run at the Games. Iran began the day with a 2-0 win against Hong Kong – winning the first period 13-8, followed by a 20-6 triumph in the second – and then defeated Bahrain 18-16 in both periods to sit firmly atop Group A with four victories ahead of today’s final group game against China.
In beach soccer, late drama saw Iran defeat Saudi Arabia 2-1 to clinch a semifinal spot as Group A winner. After a goalless scoreline in the first two periods, Ali Mirshekari broke the deadlock for Iran in the 25th minute, only to see his goal canceled out seconds later by Ahmed Alhamami. However, Reza Dayeri’s 27th-minute winner secured a third victory in Sanya for Ali Naderi’s men, who had earlier beaten the United Arab Emirates (5-2) and Thailand (13-1).
The Iranian kabaddi team, meanwhile, advanced to the men’s final after a victory over Sri Lanka. Having beaten Syria 53-31 to finish top of Group A earlier on Sunday, Iran overcame the South Asian opponent 42-29 to set up a final date with India today.
In men’s water polo, Iran beat South Korea in straight sets (4-3, 3-2, 5-2) to secure its second victory of the round-robin competition, following a 3-1 win against Hong Kong the previous day.