Former Iran national table tennis player Mohammad Vahabzadeh passed away at the age of 73.

He died in Germany Sunday night due to illness.

Vahabzadeh is survived by his son, Arya.

Vahabzadeh represented Iran in three World Table Tennis Championships 1971 (Nagoya), 1973 (Sarajevo) and 1977 (Birmingham).

He is the first Iranian to play abroad when he joined a German team in 1975.

Vahabzadeh is widely considered as one of the pioneers of Iran table tennis.

 The Tehran Times staff offer heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family.