Iranian beach volleyball duo set sights on historic Olympic berth
Iranian beach volleyball duo Alireza Aqajani and Abbas Pourasgari have set their sights on securing the country’s first Olympic berth in the sport after being named among the winners at the inaugural AVC Gala Awards.
The Iranian pair won the Fans’ Choice Men’s Beach Volleyball Players award through a public vote in July, but had to wait until Saturday’s awards ceremony in Bangkok, attended by FIVB President Fabio Azevedo, AVC President Ramon Suzara and Milad Taqavi, head of the Iranian Volleyball Federation, to receive their prizes.
The recognition comes as the Iranian pair prepare for two major targets on the road to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics: the Asian Beach Volleyball Championships, which begin Sept. 2 in Shangluo, China, and serve as an Olympic qualifier, and the subsequent Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
Aqajani said the award was a sign that Iranian beach volleyball was moving in the right direction, crediting the federation for its support.
“This valuable trophy shows that beach volleyball is on the right path and that the federation is providing good support for the sport,” said Aqajani, who teamed up with Pourasgari to win the men’s title at the CAVA Championships last month.
The Iranian added that the pair’s ultimate goal was to make history by earning the country’s first Olympic qualification in beach volleyball at Los Angeles 2028.
“We have gone through many competitions, and I would like to dedicate this award to the people of Iran, the volleyball community and my family,” he said. “I hope we can successfully get through the stages ahead, one by one, so that beach volleyball can qualify for the Olympics for the first time and win the gold medal at the Asian Championship and the Asian Games.”
Aqajani also wished “peace for everyone around the world.”
Pourasgari, meanwhile, said the award was the product of years of hard work and competition.
“I am very happy that Abbas and I were among the best at the first Asian gala,” he said. “Since 2023, with the federation’s support, we have competed in various events and achieved many good results. The result of those efforts and training has brought us to this point, among the best players in Asia.
“We have two very important events ahead of us – the Asian Championships and the Asian Games. I hope we can perform successfully at these competitions and win the best possible medals to make the people of Iran happy and repay the efforts of our families and everyone who works for Iranian beach volleyball.”