Iran Press/ Iran news: Iran national basketball team advanced to the 2020 Olympic Games after beating the Philippines in the 2019 FIBA World Cup classification round on Sunday.
Minutes after the news came out, Ali Larijani, in a message, described the achievement by the National Iranian Men's Basketball Team as bringing happiness and joy to hearts of the Iranian nation, Mehr nes agency reported.
The parliament speaker further said the victory showed the unity, enthusiasm and capabilities of the young Iranian players.
Iran claimed the lone Asian Olympic qualifying spot available at the FIBA World Cup after beating the Philippines 95-75 in Beijing.
Gaining 19 points, seven rebounds and two blocks, Iran center Hamed Haddadi was selected as Player of the Game.
Iran could secure its qualification for Tokyo 2020 after China lost to Nigeria 86-73 in its last FIBA World Cup game on Sunday. China will have to go through a qualifying tournament next summer.
This is the third time that Iran’s national basketball team qualifies for the Olympics, after 1948 and 2008, and the first Olympic trip with an Iranian coach, Mehran Shahintab’e.
Iran and Nigeria join Australia and Japan as the first four teams in the 12-team Olympic field for next summer in Tokyo.
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