Iran withstood a late fightback to beat China 79-70 and win the Asian Games men’s basketball bronze, an achievement that left their players “speechless” after months of war back home. China led 31-29 at half-time in Nagoya, but Iran took charge in the third quarter to lead 55-46 going into the fourth and held on to prompt wild celebrations and secure a place on the podium on Sunday. Teammate Arman Zangeneh said the squad had been through a lot, but it was worth it.
We went to the Philippines to play the qualifiers, then immediately we came here.” “It was really difficult. And living in a container, with the food and everything, it was hard, very hard.” “In the end, we got to the point where we go home with a medal, and it means a lot,” Zangeneh added. Male athletes from the country’s national teams who win medals at the Asian Games are granted exemption from mandatory military conscription in a move announced by Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in 2018.
Previously, only medallists at the Olympic or world games were exempt from the draft, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency. Iranian males reaching the age of 18 are required to serve two years on active duty and are then transferred to the reserve force.
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