Iran claim basketball bronze at 2026 Asian Games, win delegation’s first medal
Iran defeated China 79-70 in the men’s basketball bronze-medal game at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games on Sunday, securing the first medal for the Iranian delegation at the 20th edition of the continental event.
Iran overcame a slow start at Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan, trailing China 17-12 after the opening quarter. The Iranian side responded in the second period, outscoring China 17-14 to cut the deficit to two points, 31-29, at halftime.
Iran then produced its strongest spell after the break, scoring 26 points in the third quarter while holding China to 15. That turnaround put Iran ahead 55-46 heading into the final period.
China fought back in the fourth quarter, with both teams scoring 24 points, but Iran maintained its nine-point advantage to complete a 79-70 victory and take the bronze medal.
The Iranian team opened its Group B campaign with a 59-53 defeat by Qatar before responding with victories over Chinese Taipei, 72-69, and Jordan, 81-68. The results sent Iran into the knockout stage.
Iran continued its progress in the quarterfinals, edging Bahrain 79-74 on Wednesday to reach the last four.
The semifinal against South Korea ended in a 77-51 defeat for Iran on Friday. South Korea moved into the gold-medal game against Japan, while Iran and China met in the third-place playoff on Sunday.
The result gives Iran its first medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Games, where the men's basketball competition featured 12 teams divided into three groups.
The gold-medal game between South Korea and Japan is scheduled for later Sunday.
Iran's delegation, named “Minab Angels”—a tribute to the victims of a US-Israeli attack on Shajareh Tayyebe Elementary School in Minab on February 28—is competing at the Games with 305 athletes across 38 sports.
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