Iran female ping pong players shine in world championships

03/07/16

Source: Press TV

Iranian female ping pong players have impressed the spectators in the final match of the Perfect 2016 World Team Table Tennis Championships in Malaysia, winning it and standing on top of the podium.



On Saturday, the Iranian women's national table tennis team, comprised of Mahboubeh Omrani, Neda Shahsavari and Maryam Samet, put an end to its campaign at Division 3 of the international sporting event in the Malaysian capital city of Kuala Lumpur, and sank Uzbekistan 3-1 in its final showdown.

Iranian sportswomen had earlier gained a precious 3-1 victory over Venezuela to advance to Division 2 of the games.

Omrani suffered a 2-3 loss from her Venezuelan opponent in the first contest on Friday, before Shahsavari prevailed over another representative from the South American country 3-1 in the next game.

Samet also defeated her rival 3-0 to put Iran 2-1 ahead. Shahsavari finally sealed Iran's win in her second challenge and final game with a 3-2 victory.

The Perfect 2016 World Team Table Tennis Championships opened in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on February 28, and wrapped up on March 6, 2016.

"Sport is among the priorities of the public diplomacy arena, because it enjoys potentials and strength that may be unrivaled," Iranian Ambassador to Malaysia Marziyeh Afkham said during a banquet with the Iranian ping pong players at the Iranian Embassy on Saturday.

"Sport provides a quick path to understanding the world. The area of sports... moves faster than other areas [of public diplomacy], and helps the establishment of strong friendship as well as close bonds among nations," she said.

"Iran's young generation has managed to introduce the country to the world in various sport fields and besides scientific areas," she said.

The Iranian ambassador also praised the Iranian sportswomen over their precious achievements in different tournaments with hijab.