Iran secured their ninth men's title at the 2026 World ParaVolley Sitting Volleyball World Championships in Hangzhou, China, today (17 July).
Hangzhou, China – Iran secured their ninth men's title at the 2026 World ParaVolley Sitting Volleyball World Championships after defeating Bosnia and Herzegovina 3-1 today, in Friday's final in Hangzhou, China.
The reigning Paralympic champions won the opening two sets 25-21 and 25-20 before Bosnia and Herzegovina responded to take the third set 25-20. Iran regained control in the fourth set to seal the match 25-16 and complete an unbeaten run to the world title.
The victory capped another dominant campaign for the most successful team in the history of men's sitting volleyball and confirmed Iran's qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.
Iran finished top of their group with victories over Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Japan before defeating Croatia in the Round of 16, the United States in the quarter-finals and Kazakhstan in the semi-finals.
Iran's squad for Hangzhou 2026 consisted of Meisam Haj Babaei, Sadegh Beigdeli, Hamidreza Abbasi, Mahdi Babadi, Ali Akbari, Davoud Alipourian, Hossein Golestani, Masoud Emami, Mohammad Nemati, Jamal Nazari, Meisam Alipour and Morteza Mehrzad.
The team was led by head coach Hadi Rezaei, assisted by Amin Asghari and Hadi Sajedinia.
The 2026 World ParaVolley Sitting Volleyball World Championships took place in Hangzhou, China, from 10 to 17 July and featured 32 teams (men and women) from around the world, with qualification places for the LA28 Paralympic Games on offer.