I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DECEMBER 30, 2019 SPORTS 15 We learned from Mehdi Ghaedi Linked with Fulham Fulham are keen on Esteghlal forward Medhi Ghaedi, according Qatar match: Hamid Estili to the club’s former manager Andrea Stramaccioni. 20-year-old Ghaedi, a forward who can play on either wing SPORTS TEHRAN – Iran U23 football team but is currently operating in a central role, has clearly shown deskcoach Hamid Estili says that they enough to impress the Championship side. learned from friendly match against Qatar. Iran were held to a 2-2 draw by Qatar on Saturday in Doha as part of preparation for the 2020 AFC U23 Championship. Reza Shekari and Mehdi Ghaedi scored for Iran in the first half. Qatar turned the 2-0 deficit to draw 2-2, thanks to a brace from Abdulrasheed Umaru Ibrahim in the final minutes of the match. “It was a good test and Qatar match gave us the chance to evaluate our team for the competition. We wanted to prepare for the Uzbekistan match,” Estili said. “The match against Qatar was very important to us because we wanted to practice style of attacking and defensive football,” he stated. “Two Qatar players were sent off but we let them to stay onto the field because we wanted to test our team They are currently fifth in the table, nine points outside of in the equal conditions,” Estili concluded. the top two but firmly in line for a play-off place under Scott Iran have been drawn in Group C along with defend- Parker’s leadership. ing champions Uzbekistan, China and South Korea. Additions may arrive in the January transfer window to help The competition will be held in Thailand from Jan. with a push for a top-six finish, and according to Stramaccioni, 8 to 26. Ghaedi is one they are looking at. The top three teams qualify for the 2020 Tokyo The Italian boss has just returned from six months in charge Olympics in July, although should Japan emerge as of Eseghlal after a disagreement over the transfer of his salary one of them, the fourth-placed side will advance. brought a premature end to his spell at the club. Iran have not been in the Olympics since the 1976 Speaking to Corriere Dello Sport, he was discussing his time games in Munich. at the Iranian club and his most significant achievement, Medhi Hamid Estili’s team will start the campaign on Jan. Ghaedi. 9 with a match against Uzbekistan. “One of my greatest satisfactions is having contributed to the growth of Mehdi Ghaedi,” he told the newspaper. “He is a twenty-year-old boy, last year he played only four games. He was the left-winger, I changed his role, convincing Mehdi Taj resigns as head of Iran football federation him to make the second striker. “It was not easy: he’s a niche player. The captain came to me SPORTS TEHRAN — Mehdi Taj resigned on accordance with the regulation by the vice president,” to say: mister, leave it alone. deskSunday as head of Football Federa- Alavi said. “Instead I insisted, thinking of players of his size like Papu tion of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) due to Taj was elected as head of Iran football federation in Gomez, Di Natale or Giovinco. the heart problems. May 2016, replacing Ali Kafashian, who held the position “If they see the goal they become devastating. He was rushed to hospital last week and the doctors for eight years. “Now he is the top scorer of the championship and Fulham recommended him stepping off from his role. Taj previously was First Vice President of Iranian want him.” Taj has suffered heart problems related to the stress Football Federation (2008–2012), President of the Iran (Source: Sportwitness.co.uk) of management twice in one year. Football League Organization (2013–2016), Secretary of Iran football federation spokesman Amir Mehdi Alavi the Board of Sepahan (1992–1994, 2002–2006) and pres- has confirmed that Taj has resigned from his role. ident of the club (1994–1999). He was also editor-in-chief “The activities, from now on, will be carried out in of Jahan Varzesh sports daily from 1991 until 2001. Iran’s Firouzja runner-up in world chess Japan send warning to rivals with big Russia, in letter to WADA, disagrees IRNA — Iranian chess player Alireza Firouzja stood on the win over Jamaica with decision to ban its athletes: RIA second place in rapid category in the world with eight victories and five ties. Firouzja who had attended the world competitions under FIDE flag, received 10.5 points in rapid category and ranked second. After defeating Azeri rival, the Iranian player ranked second. Belgian chess player ranked first. For the first time in the history of Iran’s chess, Alireza Firouzja received the grand master title and is among 30 top players in the world. Meanwhile, Sara Sadat Khadem al-Sharieh received two silver medals in rapid and blitz categories. Hooman Afazeli appointed Pars Jonoubi coach TASNIM — Hooman Afazeli has been named the new head coach of Pars Jonoubi football team. The 48-year-old coach replaced Faraz Kamalvand in the Bushehr-based football team. Pars Jonoubi sit 12th in the Iran Professional League, eight Japan flexed their muscles ahead of Hatate (16th, 19th) and Maeta Daizen (19th) MOSCOW/MONTREAL (Reuters) — appeal a four-year ban WADA’s executive points above the relegation zone. the AFC U23 Championship Thailand giving them a comfortable lead. The Russian Anti-Doping Agency sent a committee had imposed on Dec. 9 over Afazeli started his coaching career in Shahab Zanjan in 2001 2020 with a 9-0 win over Jamaica in a Abe Hiroki scored their fifth in the letter to the World Anti-Doping Agency doping that bars the country from com- and has coached Steel Azin, Saba Qom and Naft Tehran. friendly at the Transcosmos Stadium 28th minute but Japan didn’t let up in (WADA) formally stating that it disagrees peting under its flag at top international He had also been head coach of Iran U-23 football team in 2010. in Nagasaki on Saturday. the second half as Shunki Higashi (51st), with the decision to ban Russian athletes sporting events. Japan were on the front foot from the Kazunari Ichimi (82nd), Kaoru Mitoma from major sporting events, RIA news agen- “WADA remains convinced that it first blow of the referee’s whistle and their (88th) and Yuto Iwasaki (90+5) completed cy reported on Friday, citing RUSADA head. made the right decision on 9 December,” early pressure saw Yuta Nakayama putting a resounding win. WADA said later on Friday it had re- WADA president Craig Reedie said in a Mohammad Tayyebi joins the 2016 AFC U23 Championship winners Japan open their AFC U23 Champi- ceived the letter and would shortly file a statement on Friday. Sepahan side ahead in the fifth minute. onship Thailand 2020 Group B campaign formal notice with the Court of Arbitration “The proposed consequences are tough Japan, also preparing to impress in the against Saudi Arabia on January 9. They for Sport (CAS) where the dispute will on the Russian authorities while robustly 2020 Tokyo Olympics, continued pressing meet Syria three days later and Qatar on be resolved and the outcome binding on protecting the integrity of clean sport around IRNA — Naft Masjed Soleyman defender Mohammad Tayyebi and scored three goals in four minutes to January 15. all parties. the world. We will defend that decision joined Sepahan for an undisclosed fee on Sunday. blow Jamaica’s challenge away, with Reo (Source: Japan Football Association) RUSADA said earlier this month it would with the utmost vigor at CAS.” The 33-year-old center back is Sepahan’s first signing in the January transfer window. Tayyebi started his football career in Naft Omidiyeh in 2011 Jahanbakhsh reveals why he was so emotional after his goal for Brighton and has also played in Esteghlal Khuzestan, Qatar SC, Pars Jonoubi and Tractor. A well-taken strike after just two minutes against Bourne- well day in day out and every time I get my chance I want Sepahan are going to win Iran Professional League after five mouth saw Jahanbakhsh net his first ever goal in a Brighton to make an impact. years. and Hove Albion shirt. “It has been a very tough time for me and my family. The Isfahan-based football team sit second in the table, three It was the Iranian’s first Premier League start of the season Last season was not the best season for me. This time, half points adrift of Persepolis. and it helped Albion to an impressive and much-needed the season I did not play. But now I’m settling down, I like 2-0 victory against Bournemouth at the Amex Stadium. the city and I have a very good relationship with the boys. Jahanbakhsh, a £17m signing from Dutch club AZ “I had ups and downs last year, trying to settle,” Ja- Alkmaar in 2018, was overcome with emotion following hanbakhsh said. “This season it felt good with the new Gabriel Calderon says his early opener. manager. He wanted to use different players, but I’ve His teammates were delighted for him and tears were been doing well in training and was ready for my chance.” goodbye to Persepolis fans in his eyes as he fell to the floor and attempted to gather Jahanbakhsh’s strike took the visitors by surprise.