Asian Games 2023: PKL star Fazel Atrachali in Iran men’s kabaddi team - full squad
Iran’s team also includes several other Pro Kabaddi League players like Mohammad Esmaeil Nabibakhsh, who was a member of the gold medal-winning squad at Jakarta 2018.
Star defender Fazel Atrachali and all-rounder Mohammad Esmaeil Nabibakhsh will headline the 12-member Iran kabaddi team for the Asian Games 2023, scheduled in Hangzhou, the People’s Republic of China, from September 23.
Both Fazel Atrachali and Mohammad Esmaeil Nabibakhsh are star performers in India’s popular Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) as well. Both represented the Puneri Paltan team last season.
The Iranian team for the Asian Games also includes all-rounder Mohammad Reza Shadlu, who set the PKL record for the most tackle points (16) in a single match last season. Mohammad Reza Shadlu played for Patna Pirates.
Reza Mirbagheri (Jaipur Pink Panthers) and Amirhossein Bastami (Haryana Steelers) are the other Iranian players in the squad who have also played in the popular Pro Kabaddi League of India.
Iran are the defending Asian Games kabaddi champions. They defeated kabaddi powerhouse India in the semi-finals at Jakarta 2018 before beating the Republic of Korea 26-16 in the final to win the gold medal.
Before the Jakarta Asian Games, India won the gold medals in every other edition of the continental event in which kabaddi was played.
Fazel Atrachali, as captain, and Mohammad Esmaeil Nabibakhsh were part of the gold medal-winning Iran kabaddi team at the 2018 Asian Games.
The 31-year-old Fazel Atrachali, in fact, is a three-time Asian Games medallist. He bagged a silver each at Incheon 2014 and Guangzhou 2010.
Iran are also the defending champions in the women's event. The 12-member Iranian women’s kabaddi team for Hangzhou comprises six players from Jakarta 2018. Iran won the women’s title last time out by defeating India in the final.
Asian Games 2023: Iran kabaddi squads
Iran kabaddi men’s team: Fazel Atrachali, Mohammad Esmail Nabibakhsh, Mohammad Kazem Nasari, Ali Reza Mirzaein, Hamid Nader, Reza Mirbhageri, Mohammad Reza Kaboudrahangi, Amir Mohammad Zafardanesh, Moeen Shafiq, Mohammad Reza Shadlu, Milad Jabbari, Amirhossein Bastami.
Iran kabaddi women’s team: Ghazal Khalaj, Farideh Zarifdoost, Maryam Solgi, Mahboobeh Sanchooli, Saeideh Jafari, Mohaddeseh Rajbaloo, Zahra Karimi, Roya Davoudian, Fatemeh Khodabandeh, Fatemeh Mansouri, Raheleh Naderi, Sedigheh Jafari.