TEHRAN, Iran (22nd FIBA Asia U18 Championship): The core of the Iran’s Under 18 team preparing for the 22nd FIBA Asia U18 Championship to be played in Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia) from Aug 19-26 recently participated in the Asian Student Games in China and returned home with the gold medal with an unbeaten record in the event.

The Iranian team began their campaign with a 74-37 win against Hong Kong and then beat hosts China 67-55. Iran then rounded off their Preliminary Round engagements beating Mongolia 89-55.

In the semifinals, Iran took Macau in their stride with a 101-40 win and then beat China 68-48 in the gold medal game.

The players will now resume training under Mehran Hatami on Saturday and continue their prepratations for the 22nd FIBA Asia U18 Championship.

Iran, gold medalists of the FIBA Asia U18 Championship in the 2004 Bangalore and 2008 Tehran editions, have been drawn with Kazakhstan – the 2008 silver medalists – SEABA champions Philippines and GCC top team Saudi Arabia in Group D of the Prelim Round competition at the 22nd FIBA Asia U18 Championship.

FIBA Asia

Reporting inputs from Fereshteh Seyfi Naji in Tehran