Iran and China earn top podium finishes in Cairo

Reigning world champions Iran and Asian champions China captured the 2023 World ParaVolley Sitting Volleyball World Cup gold medals in Cairo, Egypt, after going undefeated on Saturday.

Iran topped the men’s podium after their 3-0 (25-21, 25-19, 25-17) victory over hosts Egypt, completing their tournament sweep.

The world champions started the scoring but were met with the hosts’ strong resistance in the opening set. Iran gave its top player Morteza Mehrzad a breather as they led with a two-point cushion at 15-13 but had to call a timeout at the score of 19-all. And at 21-all, Mehrzad had to come back in to help out with the offence. Egypt managed to score two more markers, but Iran escaped with a 25-21 set win.

Mehrzad also started in the next two frames but got some rest during each set as his teammates controlled the tempo of the game. Iran closed the second and third sets 25-19 and 25-17, respectively, to secure the gold medal.

Germany clinched bronze with after recovering from a 2-1 deficit to win 3-2 (25-16, 24-26, 22-25, 25-18, 15-5) against continental rivals Ukraine.

Brazil and Iraq finished fifth and seventh in the standings, respectively, following their victories over China 3-1 (25-21, 25-22, 26-28, 25-20) and Japan 3-1 (24-26, 25-14, 25-21, 25-13).

Meanwhile, China grabbed the gold medal after their 3-1 (25-23, 25-16, 17-25, 25-20) victory against Canada.

The Chinese barely escaped the first set with a narrow 25-23 win. The score was tied at 18-all and when the Canadians led 23-22, the Chinese were forced to call a timeout and make a substitution. The changes after the break went China’s way as they held the Canadians scoreless, while they scored the next three points to snatch the opening set victory.

China easily took the second set at 25-16, but Canada refused to give up and fought right up in the third set to extend the game. China managed to gain control of the match in the fourth set and sealed their World Cup victory at 25-20.

World champions Brazil bagged the women’s bronze medal after their 3-0 (25-13, 25-17, 25-18) win over Germany.

Ukraine prevailed over Slovenia 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-21) in the all-European battle for fifth, while Rwanda overcome Egypt 3-0 (25-16, 25-17, 25-14) in the all-African clash for seventh place.

FINAL STANDINGS

Men