Football
Iran's national soccer team lost "great opporunity"
Iran's national soccer team has been held to a 1-1 draw by the UAE to lose the chance of topping Group B of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers. Abdulraheem Jumma put the UAE ahead in the 20th minute to revive his side's dim hope of advancing to the World Cup finals, losing their first three matches to South Korea, Saudi Arabia and North Korea. Iran's Karim Baqeri, however, scored the equalizer at Dubai's Al-Maktoum Stadium just nine minutes from time.
Nov 19, 2008, 17:41

Football
Peyrovani named Persepolis coach
Former Iranian national soccer captain Afshin Peyrovani has been named as the interim coach of his former club Persepolis of Tehran. "The decision was made by the club's board of directors on Wednesday morning," said Persepolis managing director, Dariush Mostafavi. The 38-year-old Peyrovani expressed his pleasure at the appointment. "I am happy that I have been selected as the club's interim coach. This is the toughest responsibility in Persepolis but I hope to gain good results with my colleagues' cooperation," Peyrovani said.
Nov 19, 2008, 17:39

Football
Daei says Iran-UAE a tough match
Iran's soccer manager Ali Daei has said his men will face a tough match in their 2010 World Cup qualifier against the UAE next week. “The match against the UAE will be one of our toughest, since they have nothing to lose and desperately need all three points to qualify for the final round,” Daei said on Friday. “We must control the game by programming and presenting a rational and well-organized performance to pave the way for the Iranian side to qualify for the 2010 World Cup,” he added. The United Arab Emirates drew 0-0 in Tehran in the previous qualification round.
Nov 17, 2008, 18:00

Sports
No medal for Iran's karate champ
Iran's 2006 world karate champion Jasem Wishgahi has been knocked out of this year's championship in Tokyo after losing in the second round. In the -75kg category held on Sunday, Wishgahi beat his Slovenian opponent in the first round but later lost to his Japanese opponent. It is now impossible for the athlete to win any medals in the current games. Wishgahi won the gold medal in the 2006 WKF World Karate Championship in Finland.
Nov 17, 2008, 17:55

Football
Persepolis draws 2-2 with Saba Battery
Tehran's popular team Persepolis has been held to a 2-2 draw by Saba Battery in the fourteenth week of the Iranian Premier League (IPL). Alireza Nikbakht Vahedi put the hosts ahead with a header from Serbian Ivan Petrovic's cross in the 18th minute at Tehran's Azadi Stadium on Thursday evening. Fereydoun Fazli managed to equalize the score eight minutes after the interval on a corner from Adel Kolahkaj.
Nov 7, 2008, 21:16

Football
Tehran's Esteqlal takes IPL 2nd place
A late goal by Alireza Abbasfard has helped Tehran's popular team Esteqlal to move up to the second place after a 2-2 draw against Malavan. The hosts took the lead after 28 minutes when Jalal Rafkhaie scored the opener from the penalty spot at the Takhti Stadium in Anzali on Thursday. Esteqlal, coached by Amir Qalenoei, pushed forward and managed to level the score when Siavash Akbarpour headed in a corner by Brazilian Fabio Janvario in the 32nd minute.
Nov 7, 2008, 21:15

Football
Sepahan FC fires German coach
Iran's Sepahan FC has fired German coach Engin Firat after a series of disappointing results in the Iranian Premier League (IPL). Officials from the soccer club made the decision on Tuesday after the team faced heavy defeats against Peykan and defending champion Persepolis. Majid Basirat and Hossein Charkhabi will be coaching the team temporarily until the club appoints a new manager. Former Persepolis coach Hamid Estili is believed to be among the candidates to steer the 2008 IPL runners-up.
Oct 29, 2008, 17:29

Sports
Ronaldo chosen as world best player
Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo has been picked as FIFPro World Player of the Year, getting another award in his professional career. "To be recognized by my fellow professional players worldwide, coming from over 50,000 players is amazing," the Portugal player said in comments posted on the FIFPro website on Monday. FIFPro is the worldwide representative organization for professional players. "If you want to be good, you have to practice not just in training but games as well. That is my style of football," said Ronaldo.
Oct 28, 2008, 18:10

Football
Esteqlal thrashes Paykan
Tehran's Esteqlal seals a 3-2 victory over Paykan following a hat trick by Arash Borhani in the 12th week of the Iranian Premier League. Paykan took the lead when former Esteqlal player Saeed Lotfi scored on a corner in the 23rd minute at Tehran's Azadi stadium on Monday. Amir Qalenoi's men managed to equalize the score through Arash Borhani who converted a penalty in the 33rd minute. Borhani netted his second goal four minutes later on a header pass by Brazilian Fabio Janvario.
Oct 28, 2008, 18:09

Sports
Iran judo fighter beats Egyptian
Iran's judo practitioner Hojjat Rahnama has defeated his Egyptian rival Reda Abdulrahim at the Junior World Championships in Thailand. Competing in Bangkok, the Iranian judoka beat the Egyptian in the -90 kg category on Friday. Rahnama will face Tomasz Domanski from Poland in the second round. Another Iranian judo fighter Mojtaba Nikbin was defeated by his Mongolian opponent Temuulen Battulga in the 100 kg class on the same day. The 14th World Junior Judo Championships are being held October 23-26
Oct 24, 2008, 21:51

Sports
Iran wins Asian youth volleyball title
Iran's national team has clinched an easy victory over Japan to claim the Asian Youth Volleyball Championship title for the fourth time. The Iranian squad thrashed Japan on Wednesday in three consecutive sets (25-19, 25-13, 25-17) to win the title for the fourth time in its fifth appearance in the final match of the games. Iran and Japan had already qualified for the 2009 Youth World Championship in Italy by reaching the final match. In the third-place match, India beat China 3-2 on Wednesday to qualify for the games in Italy.
Oct 23, 2008, 15:32

Sports
Iran reaches youth volleyball world cup
Iran has secured a berth in the 2009 youth volleyball world cup after clinching a narrow 3-2 victory over India in the semifinals. At the seventh Asian Youth Volleyball Championship currently being held in Sri Lanka, the Iranian squad lost the first and third sets 25-22 and 32-30, but managed to win the three other sets 25-20, 25-18 and 15-10 to face Japan in the final match. Japan fought back from two sets down to beat China 3-2 (25-27, 18-25, 25-23, 25-17, 15-12) in the second semifinal match. The final match will be held on Wednesday, 1130 GMT.
Oct 21, 2008, 21:00

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