Hangzhou, China, September 25, 2023: Iranian legend Seyed Mohammad Mousavi has more than one million followers on Instagram. All of them, plus millions more of his countrymen, will be glued to social media and TV networks as Team Melli take on China in the men’s volleyball gold medal final at the Hangzhou Asian Games on Tuesday, September 26.
The men’s volleyball competition began with 19 teams. Iran and China will now go head-to-head for gold. It will be raging favourites against home favourites.
“We knew we would be in the gold medal match. Now I pray we can win the gold medal,” said Iranian Chef de Mission Seyed Manaf Hashemi. “I know our players will be giving their best but it will be tough as China will have the support of the crowd.
“But we have two reasons for winning this match. First, it will be a hat-trick of gold medals in volleyball at the Asian Games, secondly it will also be a hat-trick for Mousavi,” Hashemi pointed out.
The Iranian team leader who is also the Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee of the Islamic Republic of Iran has been confident ever since his delegation arrived in Hangzhou of Team Melli going for gold.
On Monday morning at the Linping Sports Centre Gymnasium, Iran defeated Qatar 25-20, 25-20, 25-22 to reach the final. Later in the evening in the second semi-final, hosts China also won in straight sets over Japan, 25-15, 25-20, 25-21, to book their berth.
China has won the Asian Games men’s volleyball gold medal on three occasions – 1986, 1990 and 1998. They come up against red-hot Iran who have dominated these Games recently, winning in Incheon 2014 and Jakarta 2018.
On both occasions, legendary middle blocker Mousavi was a key player. Now 36, he showed he hasn’t lost his touch as he contributed eight points while proving a bulwark in defence to lead Iran to a comfortable victory over Qatar.
“It will be wonderful if Mousavi can get the gold again, fingers-crossed. But we are playing against the hosts and anything can happen in sports. We are optimistic, however,” added Hashemi.
