Nasrollah Sajjadi, chef de mission to Team Iran for the upcoming 2018 Asian Games, said that their preparations for the Games have been going well but they will have a tough task in the competition.

The 18th Asian Games will be held from August 18 to September 2, 2018, with 10,000 athletes from 45 National Olympic Committees competing in 40 sports, 67 disciplines and 463 events.

In addition, there will be 5,000 media, including 1,500 from Indonesia, 5,000 team officials from the 45 NOCs and 30,000 volunteers and workforce.

“Iran has improved a lot in the previous editions. The Iranian delegation came 10th in the 2002 Asian Games in Busan with a total 36 medals. Iran finished in sixth place in the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, winning 48 medals. We came fourth in the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou with 59 medals and finished in fifth place in the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, winning 57 medals,” Sajjadi said.

“There is still room for improvement but the countries, namely Kazakhstan, India, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Chinese Taipei have also improved in the recent years. We should consider the fact that hosts Indonesia are eying their best ever place in this edition. They want to finish the Games in the fourth place,” he added.  

“We know that China and Japan will definitely win the first and second places and the other countries try to finish in the best place. Our preparations have been going well and we hope to finish in fourth place,” Sajjadi stated.

Asked him to predict the number of medals Iran is going to win in this year's Games, Sajjadi said, “First, we have to announce our final list for the Games and then we can talk about the medals.”

 He claimed that Iran national volleyball team is to participate at the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Nations League (VNL) and the FIVB World Championships and the second team will take part at the Asian Games.

The reporters asked him about Iran’s flag-bearer in the Asian Games, Sajjadi said, “We haven't decided that yet.”