TEHRAN - Iran’s youth national water polo team secured a decisive 17-8 victory against tournament hosts Thailand in their second group-stage match at the 12th Asian Aquatics Championships in Bangkok.
Competing in Group B, the Iranian squad rebounded from a balanced start to outclass the hosts in the later stages of the game. The match opened with a 3-3 deadlock in the first quarter, followed by a tight 6-5 lead for Iran by the end of the second quarter. Iran broke the game open in the third quarter, surging to a 14-7 lead before sealing the final 17-8 victory in the fourth quarter.
The Iranian squad is scheduled to face Hong Kong in their third preliminary round match on Sunday at 13:30 local time. Under the tournament’s draw, the men’s division features 12 teams divided into two groups. Iran shares Group B with Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, and Kazakhstan, while Group A consists of Singapore, Saudi Arabia, India, China, Uzbekistan, and South Korea.
Led by head coach Vahid Rezaei Ashtiani, coach Ali Piroozkhah, and team manager Amirali Monirizad, the Iranian roster includes Ehsan Ali-Akbari, Arshia Abdollahifar, Mehran Biabani, Mehrab Golestanirad, Muhammad Sina Eftekhari, Mahan Abolhasani, Matin Rouhbakhsh Mojaddar, Muhammad Amin Sadeghinejad, Farbod Boroujei, Seyed Savan Omrani Khorasani, Danial Ashraghi, Amir-Muhammad Mirjalili, Amir-Hussein Amiriyan, Amir-Hussein Ranjkesh, Pouya Niyazkhani, and Abolfazl Sardayan Bajgirani.