I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DECEMBER 8, 2019 SPORTS 15 Marouf a candidate for IOC Mardani takes silver at World Taekwondo Grand Athletes’ Commission Prix Final SPORTS TEHRAN — Iran na- SPORTS TEHRAN — Sajjad Mardani from Iran desktional volleyball team deskclaimed a silver medal at the World Taek- captain has been confirmed as an offi- wondo Grand Prix Final in Moscow on Saturday. cial candidate for membership in the The Iranian representative lost to his Korean opponent International Olympic Committee (IOC) In Kyo-don 21-10 at over-80kg at the Russian capital’s Athletes’ Commission. Dynamo Sports Palace. The election will take place during the Tokyo Olympic Games next summer, with all the athletes partaking having the right to vote. Commenting on the announcement, Kirsty Coventry, the current Chair of the IOC AC, said: “It is great to see such a fantastic response from the athlete com- munity with the interest we have received from athletes around the world in this election. I am impressed by the diverse representation of sports and countries, and this demonstrates how much athletes care, and want to share their voice and play a central role in the Olympic Movement. It is exciting to have such a high caliber of candidates, and I wish them all the very best of luck.” He needed a gold medal to secure his place at the 2020 The athletes elected by their peers Olympic Games. during the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 Arman Hadipour at under-58kg and Mirhashem Hos- will replace the following members, whose seini at under-68kg secured their berths by reaching the term of office will expire at the end of semifinals. these Games: IOC AC Chair Kirsty Cov- Taekwondo first became a full Olympic medal sport entry (Zimbabwe), Vice-Chair Danka at Sydney 2000. Bartekova (Slovakia), Tony Estanguet (France) and James Tomkins (Australia). In addition, an appointed member of the will also end his term next year. guage and his fame are reasons for his The 34-year-old setter is a member of Commission, Stefan Holm (Sweden), Marouf’s fluency in English lan- appointment. Iran national volleyball team about 15 years. UAE eye Persepolis coach Gabriel Calderon Iran fall short against China at Asia-Pacific PLDC — After sacking Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk, the UAE are reportedly eying Persepolis coach Gabriel Calderon. Goalball Champs The 59-year-old Argentine, who has been appointed as Persepolis coach this season, has already worked in SPORTS TEHRAN — Iran lost to China at the In the men’s event seven teams will be in action until deskIBSA Goalball Asia-Pacific Champion- Dec. 10, while six women teams will compete together. Oman and Bahrain national football teams. ships on Saturday. The winners of each of the men’s and women’s com- A Saudi journalist has tweeted that the Emirati football After three wins against Thailand, South Korea and petition, if not already qualified, will secure a ticket to officials are going to sign Calderon. Indonesia, Team Melli were defeated against China 9-5 Tokyo 2020. Bert van Marwijk took over the UAE national side in at the at the Chiba Port Arena in Chiba, Japan. Iran will hope to better their silver medal from 2017 March but was sacked in the wake of a 4-2 defeat to Qatar Iran will face Australia and Japan on Sunday in Pool A. when they lost out to China 10-2 in the final. in the Persian Gulf Cup on Tuesday. Iran win bronze at IWBF Asia Oceania Mustafa Denizli steps down as Iran Loses to China at Men’s Championships Tractor head coach Junior AHF Cup 2019 TASNIM — Iran lost to China at the Men’s Junior Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) Cup 2019 on Friday. The Iranian team, who had drawn 1-1 with Thailand in its opening match, suffered a 3-1 loss against China in Pool A. Mehdi Shahrokhi scored the only goal of the match for Iran. Iran will play Uzbekistan on Sunday. The competition is being held in Muscat, Oman from December 5 to 14. Iran have been drawn in Pool A along with China, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Uzbekistan. Pool B consists of Oman, Singapore, Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong. The competition is taking place at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, which is the most important stadium in the city of Muscat. The top four teams from this tournament will qualify for the Men’s Junior Asia Cup 2020 and join the teams of Bangladesh, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Pakistan who have already qualified. SPORTS TEHRAN — Iran’s (twice), Malaysia, South Korea and Japan. SPORTS TEHRAN — Mustafa Denizli has managed many Turkish no- The Men’s Junior Asia Cup 2020 is a qualifier round deskmen’s team defeated Team Melli had already qualified for deskDenizli stepped down table soccer clubs, including “Istanbul Big for the Hockey Junior World Cup 2021. japan 66-55 on Saturday to win bronze the 2020 Paralympic Games as one of top as Tractor head coach less than six Three”- namely Fenerbahce, Galatasaray medal of the 2019 International Wheel- four finishers. months in charge. and Besiktas but was forced to quit following chair Basketball Federation (IWBF) Asia Iran’s women’s team also defeated Af- The 70-year-old coach, who has al- poor results. Oceania Championships. ghanistan 48-35 in the fifth-place playoff ready worked in Iranian football teams The team have not won in their past Postecoglou leads Yokohama Iran’s Omid Hadiazhar scored a match-high on Friday. Pas and Persepolis, left the team on four league games. F. Marinos to J.League title 33 Naohiro Murakami scored 15 points for Japan. Fourteen men’s teams and an event-re- Saturday by mutual consent. His assistant Ahad Sheikhlari has been Australia won the gold medal with a cord eight women’s teams competed at Tractor, who want to win Iran Pro- named as interim coach until January. 62-45 win over South Korea in the final. the competitions which took place at the fessional League (IPL) title for the first Social media reports suggest that the Yokohama F.Marinos’ clinched the J.League title on Satur- Iran suffered three defeats against Aus- Eastern National Sports Center in Thai city time ever, are eighth in the table in the Tabriz-based football club has negotiated day to end a 15-year wait as head coach Ange Postecoglou tralia (twice) and Japan and defeated China Pattaya from Nov. 29 to Dec. 7. current season. with ex-Iran coach Ali Daei. created history by becoming the first Australian to win the Japanese title. Ten-men Yokohama defeated eventual runners-up FC Tokyo 3-0 before a sell-out crowd of 64,000 at the Nissan Turkmenistan 2020: Five group stage matches to watch Stadium to clinch their fourth J.League crown. New ground will be broken, and old rivalries a Vietnamese outfit equally eager to book a The win assures Yokohama - who finished on 70 points resumed when the AFC Futsal Championship return to the FIFA Futsal World Cup after - a place in the 2020 AFC Champions League group stage. Turkmenistan 2020 begins in Ashgabat on their landmark run to the knockout stage Yokohama – on a 10-game unbeaten run and six-match February 26. at Colombia 2016. winning streak – entered the final-day showdown three With four intriguing groups confirmed Both sides advanced when a single Ngo points clear of Tokyo, with Postecoglou’s men needing in Friday’s official draw, the-AFC.com picks Ngoc Son goal earned Vietnam a hard-fought to lose by four goals to be denied the title. out some key clashes to pencil into your win in the meeting between the two sides Goals from Theerathon Bunmathan (26th), Erik Lima viewing schedule for the opening week of at the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts (44th) and Keita Endo (77th) ensured Yokohama - reduced the competition. Games; only time will tell what impact such to 10 men following goalkeeper Park Iru-gyu’s sending Turkmenistan vs Oman a result would have at Turkmenistan 2020. off in the 64th minute - sealed the title in style. February 26, Main Indoor Arena Iran vs Thailand For Postecoglou, the title is the latest in an impressive The tournament hosts kick-off their March 2, Martial Arts Arena resume which now sees him as the first Australian coach campaign against an Oman side making A match-up fit for the knockout stage to lead a team to the J.League title, with Yokohama having their first ever appearance at the Finals comes early, as two of Asia’s futsal heav- finished 12th last season, Postecoglou’s first year in charge. following a memorable play-off win over of Day Two action. them miss the FIFA Futsal World Cup after yweights clash on the final day of group Postecoglou’s honor roll in his coaching career includes United Arab Emirates in qualifying, and Uzbekistan are still looking for a maiden finishing seventh in the Continental finals. stage action in a repeat of the 2008 AFC Australia’s 2015 AFC Asian Cup win, two A-League cham- the debutants will make their bow on a Asian title after four unsuccessful appear- Standing in the way of Group B success, Futsal Championship final. pionships with Brisbane Roar and two NSL titles with truly unique stage. ances in the tournament decider since 2001, among others, will be Lebanon, who breezed Powerhouse Islamic Republic of Iran South Melbourne. Ashgabat’s Main Indoor Arena can fit while Indonesia return to the Continental through qualifying in the initial phase of are the 12-time kings of Asian futsal, while He guided Australia through 2018 FIFA World Cup 15,000, and Turkmenistan head coach Rob- stage after a six-year absence buoyed by their bid to reach a first World Cup after Thailand are the FIFA Futsal World Cup qualifying, stepping down after the Socceroos sealed their ert Grdovic has already called on local fans their best AFF Futsal Championship finish quarter-final eliminations in six of their last regulars set to combine the powers of star Finals ticket.