Iran women team stood on third place in the International Sepaktakraw Federation (ISTAF) World Cup Sepaktakraw Championship at the GMC Balayogi Indoor Stadium in Gachibowli, a suburb in Hyderabad, India.
The Iranian team, which had defeated the host country 2-0 in the previous game, lost to Thailand to finish third -- the highest position Iran has reached in the history of the games so far, Tasnim News Agency reported.
“This is a great honor for us,” Mahnaz Ahmadnia, head coach of the Iran team, said.
Iran beat Sri Lanka in its first group match 21-4 but lost to powerhouse Malaysia in a close game. However, Iran qualified for the next round as second team.
“Being among the top four teams of the world is a big achievement for Iran’s sepaktakraw”, Ahmadnia added.
Sepaktakraw is a sport which originated from Southeast Asia. It is played similarly to volleyball but players use their feet, knee, chest and head to carry a rattan ball over the net.
It is a spectator sport that contains elements of volleyball, football, martial arts and gymnastics.
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