Iran triumphed over China 79-70 to win the bronze medal in men’s basketball at the Asian Games, an emotional victory for players amid ongoing strife in their homeland. The game, held in Nagoya, saw China lead 31-29 at halftime, but Iran surged ahead in the third quarter, leading 55-46 heading into the final period. The win sparked jubilant celebrations as the team earned its place on the podium on Sunday.
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Arsalan Kazemi, a six-foot-eight power forward, expressed his emotions, stating, "To be honest with you, I’m just speechless. The pressure that we had on us is just out of this world." Kazemi, who was the first Iranian drafted into the NBA in 2013 by the Washington Wizards, reflected on the challenges faced by the team and their families over the past six months, emphasizing their commitment to bringing joy to the people of Iran.
Teammate Arman Zangeneh highlighted the significance of their achievement, noting, "If you get the medal at the Asian Games, you don’t need to go to the army anymore, so it’s huge for some players." Zangeneh detailed the hardships the team experienced, including a demanding two-month schedule that involved qualifying matches in the Philippines and living conditions that were less than ideal.
Under a policy established by former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in 2018, male athletes from Iran’s national teams who secure medals at the Asian Games are exempt from mandatory military service. Previously, only those who medaled at the Olympics or world championships received such exemptions. In Iran, male citizens must serve two years in active military duty upon reaching 18 years of age.