Iran has been pooled with Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Rio 2016 sitting volleyball competition.
Iran has been pooled with Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Rio 2016 sitting volleyball competition.
The Pools for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games sitting volleyball competition were announced pitting the finalists from both the men’s and women’s competitions at London 2012 together in the opening stages.
In the men’s competition Paralympic, five-time Paralympic gold medallist Iran is in Pool B alongside world and European champion Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The two rivals have contested the last four Paralympic finals dating back to Sydney 2000 and it was the European side that came out on top last time round at London 2012. The two powerhouses of the sport are joined in Pool B by Russia and China.
World silver medallist and host Brazil is currently second in the world rankings and it headlines Pool A. In the opening matches, the Parapan American Games gold medallist will face Egypt, Germany and the USA, Paralympic.org wrote.
The highlight of the opening round in the women’s competition will be the Pool B contest between two huge rivals – China and the USA. The two sides have played out the gold medal match at the last two Paralympic Games with world champion China coming out on top on both occasions. In Pool B they will also face Iran and Rwanda, who made history last year by becoming the first African women’s side to qualify for a Paralympic Games.
Host and world No.4 side Brazil is in Pool A together with Ukraine who is one place above it in the current world rankings. Parapan American Games bronze medallist Canada and Russia make-up the rest of the Pool.
Sitting volleyball matches at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games will be held in the Riocentro Pavilion 6 between 9 and 18 September.