I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y JANUARY 19, 2020 SPORTS 11 Iranian football teams stand Bahrain edge Iran at 2020 Asian Handball Championship SPORTS TEHRAN — Bahrain edged past Iran 22-20 against AFC’s decision desk at the 2020 Asian Men’s Handball Champi- SPORTS TEHRAN — Four Ira- onship on Saturday. desknian football clubs have Asian giants Bahrain advanced to Group 1 as the winners and announced that they will take a strong stand Iran are drawn in Group 2 as the third team. against the Asian Football Confederation Iran started the campaign with a 53-21 win over New Zealand (AFC) after it decided to ban them from at the Shaikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Hall Complex in Kuwait hosting their rivals in Iran. City on Saturday. The Asian Football Confederation The 2020 Asian Men’s Handball Championship is the 19th (AFC) has sent a letter to the Football edition of the championship held under the aegis of Asian Handball Federation Islamic Republic of Iran Federation at Kuwait City, Kuwait from Jan. 16 to 27. (FFIRI) wanting them that they would It acts as the Asian qualifying tournament for the 2021 World not be hosting AFC Champions League Men’s Handball Championship in Egypt. matches for security reasons. An extraordinary meeting was imme- diately held on Saturday at the FFIRI’s headquarters to address the situation and Mohammadian, Zare win the managers of the four clubs representing medals at Matteo Pellicone Iran in the upcoming ACL emphasized that they will withdraw from the tournament if the AFC insists on its decision. MNA — Iran’s freestyle wrestler of 97kg category Moham- “We’ve sent a letter to AFC, acknowledging madhossein Mohammadian gained commanding victories them we will withdraw from the competition against all his rivals on Friday to win the gold medal of the if they want to ban our country from host- Matteo Pellicone in Italy. ing the matches,” FFIRI acting president He started the campaign with an 11-0 win over Alisher Heydar Baharvand said. “The four Iranian Yergali of Kazakhstan who had earlier qualified his coun- clubs will stand against the AFC’s unfair try for the 2020 Olympics. Mohammadian then proved his decision and the federation will support readiness by walloping the reigning U23 world champion, whatever decisions they make.” USA’s Bo Nickal, 10-0. “The majority of the Iranian people are In the quarterfinals, he shut Olympics gold medalist USA’s not satisfied with the AFC’s decision and Kyle Snyder out before the half time with an 8-0 win. He then it’s an insult to our nation. To host the continued the chain of victories, this time with an 11-0 one against competition is our right and we will strongly 2018 world bronze-medal finisher Abraham de Jesus Conyedo defend our right,” he added. Ruano of Italy. Eventually, he won Aliaksandr Hushtyn of Belarus “We will not accept the situation and our 9-0 in the final match to complete the seismic day and win his clubs will not budge an inch on their decision first career Rankings Series title. to withdraw from the competition and the our league is the highest attended in Asia. Iranian football teams Esteghlal and League Preliminary Stage Two. Persepolis Iran also won another gold medal on Friday. Amir Hossein federation as well as Iran’s Sports Ministry There is no reason to play in neutral field,” Shahr Khodro are scheduled to play Kuwait and Sepahan have already learned their rivals Zare stunned the three-time world champion Bilial Makhov of will support them. Iran is a safe country and Baharvand stated. SC and Riffa in the 2020 AFC Champions in the ACL Group Stage. Russia in the final of 125kg category. The four-day tournament kicked off January 15 and will wrap up today in Ostia, a port city of ancient Rome located 30km away from the city center. To ban Iranian teams calls AFC credibility into question According to a report by the United World Wrestling, the stacked entry list includes seven reigning world champions, all 1 FFIRI acting president Heydar Baharvand insult to our nation. To host the competition yet to be confirmed- is unfair if not to say a “serious three 2019 Wrestlers of the Year and over 30 world medal holders also said. “The four Iranian clubs will stand against is our right and we will strongly defend our injustice”. from the 2019 World Championships. the AFC’s unfair decision and the federation will right,” he added. It seems that the Asian Football Confederation Iran’s Behnam Ehsanpoor (65kg) and Yones Aliakbar Emam- support whatever decisions they make.” Iran has the full readiness to host teams and has been under pressure to make the decision. ichoghaei (74kg) will take on their rivals on Saturday. “The majority of the Iranian people are not has proven this repeatedly in the recent years. The AFC should change its stance on this matter to satisfied with the AFC’s decision and it’s an cancellation of hosting of the games – the decision avoid inadmissible bias against Iran. Iranian boxers claim four San Lorenzo reinforced by signing Aaron Geramipour bronzes at Ahmet Comert San Lorenzo is a club that always points of the series of quarterfinals in Buenos least for a few games. Clemente has a great he averaged 10.4 points and 6 rebounds, to the top. And after a perfect first phase, Aires will be those of Ramón Clemente trajectory with steps through Puerto Rico, plus 69.7% of field shots. In his career he Tourney with four wins, the first setback appeared, and Aaron Geramipoor, two internal who Israel, Mexico, Italy and Argentina (Obras, played in Spain, Mexico, the NCAA, in just at the key moment of the competition. fill the position that cost the «Ciclon» in Ferro, Olímpico and San Lorenzo). And he Iran and in Croatia, where he was before TASNIM — Four Iranian boxers won bronze medals at the The 75-59 defeat against Franca in Brazil San Pablo, only with Batista and Caffaro, played the World Cup with Puerto Rico. arrive in Argentina. International Elite Ahmet Comert Boxing Tournament. made quick decisions to the Argentine before Justin Williams›s injury. The Iranian nationalized British is 27 The team led by Nestor Garcia Will face Danial Shahbakhsh seized a bronze medal in the 57kg. team, which hired two inmates to play The Puerto Rican nationalized American years old , and its height is 2.13m, is a on Saturday when he receives Franca at Hossein Daneshvar defeated his Mongolian rival in his first international competitions (the actual is 34 years old played last season in San center and will want to show that he can Roberto Pando, seeking to match the series match but lost to an opponent from Turkey and won a bronze BCLA and the Copa Intercontinental, Lorenzo and after passing through Astros adapt to Argentina›s basketball and his and reach a third game, which would be medal in the -81kh weight. next month in Europe). de Jalisco in Mexico, he was seduced by the experience at the Mundial in China, rep- played on Monday, also in Buenos Aires. Ehsan Rouzbahani claimed a bronze medal in the 91kg. The two new faces for the second point possibility of returning to San Lorenzo, at resenting his team. In that tournament (Source: FIBA) Ali Jamali was defeated against his Turkish rival and won a bronze medal at the +91kg. The 32nd International Ahmet Comert Boxing Tournament Saudi Arabia edge Thailand to seal semis Watford stalemate hits Spurs in being held in Istanbul, Turkey. spot at AFC U23 Championship Euro hopes Anthony Stokes signs six-month contract with Iranian side Persepolis Former Celtic forward Anthony Stokes is signing for Iranian side Persepolis, based in Tehran. The much travelled 31-year old Republic of Ireland striker is joining on a six month contract to play in Iran’s Pro League. Stokes was released early from his contract with Turkish side Adana Demispor in November after scoring once in six games. He has now found his fifth club since leaving Scotland in January 2018. Stokes featured for Apollon Smyrnisis in Greece and Iranian Bangkok: Abdullah Al Hamdan’s pen- Thitawee Auksornsri had to be at Watford held Tottenham to a goalless draw looked troubled. side Tractor Sazi since departing Easter Road. alty 12 minutes from time took Saudi his sharpest to snuff out the threat of on Saturday to extend their unbeaten run Watford threat The Dublin-born man began his career at Shelbourne in Ire- Arabia into the semi-finals of the AFC Abdullah Al Hamdan in the 17th min- in the Premier League and further damage The home side gradually worked their land before joining Arsenal’s youth system in 2003. U23 Championship Thailand 2020 as ute while Al Ghannam’s shot on the Spurs’ Champions League ambitions. way into the game and started to see much (Source: Daily Mail) Saad Al Shehri’s side claimed a narrow run called Thai goalkeeper Korraphat When Nigel Pearson took over at Vic- more of the ball. 1-0 win over Thailand at Thammasat Nareechan into action. arage Road last month Watford looked They had a good chance to test Gazzaniga Stadium on Saturday. With 12 minutes left in the half Al doomed ro relegation but he has put to- when Japhet Tanganga was booked after Al Hamdan struck decisively from Hamdan squandered his side’s best gether a remarkable run of results to lift bringing down Ismaila Sarr in a dangerous Branko Ivankovic on verge of the spot after he had been pulled back opening of the first 45 minutes, sending the club out of the relegation zone.