Hadi Rezaei Becomes First Iranian Inducted into the Global Volleyball Hall of Fame

Hadi Rezaei, the head coach of Iran's national sitting volleyball team, has become the first Iranian to be inducted into the Global Volleyball Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame, located in the United States, the birthplace of volleyball, has 166 members. Iran has won 8 Paralympic gold medals and 8 World Championship titles in this sport. Additionally, Iran has secured gold medals in all four editions of the Asian Para Games. Mr. Rezaei has achieved championships in most of these events either as a player or as a head coach. In the Tokyo Paralympics, Iran's sitting volleyball team stood on the top podium. The latest title that Hadi Rezaei achieved was the gold medal at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris. Before winning in the finals, he stated: 'In the last six matches at the Paralympics against Bosnia, we lost in Athens 2004 and London 2012, but we triumphed in Sydney 2000, Beijing 2008, Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020. Now we want to take the eighth gold in sitting volleyball.' Hadi Rezaei told the IRNA news agency that he was unable to obtain a visa to attend the Hall of Fame celebration in the United States and does not know the reason for it. Due to Mr. Rezaei's absence, a recorded message from him was played at the ceremony.