2017 Grand Champions Cup | Japan

Grand Champions Cup/ Iran snatched Bronze Medal with a tie-breaker win against France

2017/09/17 - 16:32 0 1650 All News

Osaka, Japan, September 17, 2017 – Amir Ghafour excelled in Iran’s 3-2 (38-36, 25-23, 22-25, 25-27, 15-11) win over France to finish with a bronze medal in the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Grand Champions Cup at the Osaka Municipal Central Gymnasium on Sunday.
Iran had five players that scored in double figures led by Ghafour, who finished with 24 points. Seyed Mohammed Mousavi Eraghi and Mohammadjavad Manavinezhad notched 20 and 19 points, then Milad Ebadipour and Saman Faezi added 12 points each. France also had five double-digit scorers, led by Trevor Clevenot and Stephen Boyer, who made 25 and 21 points, respectively.

Iran’s third participation resulted to their best ever finish at the World Grand Champions Cup, after finishing fifth in 2009 and fourth in 2013. Iran also recorded four victories in a single edition for the first time.

Iran and France had an intense duel in the opening set, which had to be decided with a two-point margin. Iran got better breaks and closed the set 38-36. The second set had another tight contest, but Iran still prevailed with the help of Ghafour and Manavinezhad. The French side retaliated with victories in the next two sets as Clevenot and Boyer persistently scored from the wings. Iran regained its composure and celebrated their bronze medal triumph with the victory in the fifth set.