TEHRAN - Head coach of Iran wheelchair basketball team, Mohammadreza Dastyar, expressed his satisfaction over the team being chosen as the Best Team Performance of the year by The Asian Paralympic Committee (APC).

Best Team Performance went to Iran in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia following their bronze medal at 2022 Asian Para Games.

“This is an incredible honor for us,” said Dastyar in his interview with Tehran Times.

“Despite the fact that the Iranian national basketball team deserved the title, we were a little bit surprised to hear this news. I hope for greater success for Iran's sports teams, particularly the wheelchair basketball team and those under Iran's federations for disabled sports,” he added.

The Iranian team clinched the bronze medal at the 2022 Asian Para Games with a decisive 79-35 win against China. They also claimed the silver medal at the IWBF Asia Oceania Championships in Bangkok, Thailand in May.

“The inclusion of successful teams such as China's wheelchair curling and South Korea's wheelchair tennis teams among the nominees highlights the value of the title bestowed upon Iran,” said the head coach of Iran wheelchair basketball team.

Dastyar appealed for more support for Iran's wheelchair basketball team as they aim to secure a spot in the 2024 Paralympics.

“We are preparing for a meeting with sports authorities, where we will express our demands and emphasize the need for a detailed evaluation of our field.

“Over the past few years, wheelchair basketball have had their ups and downs, but have generally performed well and remained stable.

“Instead of criticizing wheelchair basketball for losing to Japan in the Hangzhou Asian Games, it should be given a chance to prove themselves. With our players' tremendous potential, we are optimistic about achieving remarkable results in the Paralympics qualification,” he concluded.