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| Iranian village devastated by airstrike / Photo: Getty Images |
In a tragic turn of events, promising Iranian women’s volleyball players have fallen victim to the ongoing conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran.
On March 3rd, Iranian state broadcaster Al Mayadeen reported that an airstrike hit a gymnasium in Lamerd, a village in Iran’s southern Fars province, resulting in the deaths of 20 female volleyball players.
Initial reports indicated 15 casualties, but the death toll has since risen. The majority of those killed were young, up-and-coming athletes. Disturbingly, children were also present in the gym during the attack.
This incident comes amid escalating tensions across the Gulf region, following Iran’s retaliatory strikes against recent U.S. and Israeli airstrikes. Military officials have confirmed that this attack was part of the ongoing operations.
The Iranian Red Crescent has reported over 200 fatalities nationwide, with nearly 750 individuals sustaining injuries.
Responding to this devastating news, the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) released a statement expressing profound shock and concern over the loss of Iranian volleyball talent amidst the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East and surrounding areas.
The FIVB emphasized that tens of thousands of volleyball community members in the region have been displaced and now face an uncertain future. The federation stressed that its top priority is ensuring the safety of all volleyball players, coaches, staff, and volunteers residing in or visiting the affected areas.
In light of the conflict, Lee Do-hee, the head coach of Iran’s women’s national volleyball team, is set to return to South Korea temporarily.
Volleyball officials announced on March 3rd that Coach Lee is scheduled to arrive in Korea on the afternoon of March 5th via Turkish Airlines.
Lee, who took the helm of Iran’s women’s national team in June last year, led the squad to victory at the Central Asian Women’s Championship in October, securing Iran’s first women’s volleyball title in 62 years.
Despite the current situation, Lee plans to guide the Iranian women’s team in upcoming tournaments, including the AVC Nations Cup, the Asian Championship, and the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games later this year.
[By Sports Today Reporter Shin Seo-young sports@stoo.com]
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