TEHRAN -- Iran’s national table tennis star Noshad Alamiyan delivered a dramatic comeback win on Saturday to advance to the third round of the qualifying draw at the WTT Grand Smash Sweden tournament.
Facing world No. 61 Chan Baldwin of Hong Kong, Alamiyan, ranked 132nd, battled through a tense five-game showdown. After splitting the first four games, Alamiyan found himself trailing 5-9 in the decisive fifth. But in a stunning display of resilience and mental toughness, the Iranian clawed his way back to level the score at 9-9 before sealing the game — and the match — 11-9.
Final Scoreline:
Noshad Alamiyan (IRI, WR 132) def. Chan Baldwin (HKG, WR 61)
3-2 (11–5, 7–11, 6–11, 11–8, 11–9)
Alamiyan had previously dispatched Mexico’s Marcos Madrid in the opening round. He now prepares for a high-stakes clash against France’s Florian, currently ranked 148th in the world, with a spot in the main draw on the line.
While Noshad fights through qualifying, his fellow Iranian representative Nima Alamiyan has already secured a place in the main draw.
In earlier rounds, teammates Navid Shams and Beniyamin Faraji were eliminated from the qualifying bracket following losses to opponents from Chinese Taipei and South Korea, respectively.
With Noshad’s fighting spirit on full display, Iranian table tennis fans will be watching closely as he eyes a spot among the sport’s elite in Sweden.
The WTT Grand Smash Sweden tournament makes its long-awaited debut in Europe, with Malmö hosting the inaugural Europe Smash through Aug. 14 to 24 at the iconic Malmö Arena. 
It marks a historic moment as WTT brings its Grand Smash Series to Europe for the first time, landing in a nation renowned for its iconic table tennis legends and rising stars.