Iran Ends Japan’s Men’s Run as Malaysia Reaches Asian Games Semifinals

Iran sent two pairs into the Asian Games men’s padel semi-finals on 1 October, ending Japan’s challenge in both quarter-finals. Malaysia also reached the last four after a three-set win over the Philippines.

Hami Golestan and Arya Roghani beat the hosts’ Teruaki Ando and Shinnosuke Nakamura 6–4, 7–5. Farsad Shahi and Amirmohammad Jamshidi followed with a 6–1, 7–6(5) victory over Kazuki Tomita and Nasa Hatakeyama.

Tomita and Hatakeyama had eliminated Thailand’s Arnav Rawal and Stefano Mocciola in the last 16. Their defeat brought that section of the draw to an Iranian semi-final place.

Malaysia wins another decider

Christian Chin and Aidan Yunus defeated Jason Lapidus and Argil Canizares 6–3, 3–6, 6–3. It was another extended match for the Malaysians, who had also needed three sets against Kazakhstan’s Timur Khabibulin and Yevgeniy Danilov in the previous round.

The result set up a meeting with Shahi and Jamshidi. Qatar’s Mashari Naif and Rashed Naif were drawn against Golestan and Roghani in the other semi-final.

Two places in the last four secured at least one medal for Iran: a finalist would earn gold or silver, while two semi-final defeats would put the Iranian pairs together in the bronze match. The medal colours remained to be decided after Thursday’s quarter-finals.