Golestan province emerged as the standout performer at Iran's 500-point national men's pickleball championship, with Masoud Piroozee claiming two titles over five days of competition in Alborz province.
According to Pickleball News Asia, the tournament attracted 103 players from 13 provinces, who contested 197 matches at the pickleball courts of the Padel Zone complex in Alborz. The event began on a Tuesday and spanned the end of October and the start of November. The 500-point label refers to the ranking points on offer, making it significant for the national standings.
Players competed in four categories, with singles and doubles events held for both the 17+ and 35+ age groups. Amir Mardai officiated as referee, while Mehdi Khalghi organised the championship.
Piroozee won the 17+ singles title ahead of fellow Golestan player Roozbeh Faraji, with Radin Fakhimi of host province Alborz finishing third. Piroozee also took the 35+ doubles crown alongside Hojjat Nasrallah of West Azerbaijan.
Faraji made up for his singles defeat by winning the 17+ doubles, partnering Alborz's Daniyal Hajivand. Golestan's Mohammad Noori and Mani Khosravi completed that podium in third place.
The Tehran pairing of Alireza Rouhani and Mehdi Shafiq were runners-up in both doubles competitions.
In the 35+ singles, Mohammad Akbari of Mazandaran province claimed the title. A player from Yazd province was second, while Majid Shah Hosseini of Tehran placed third. Shah Hosseini earned a second podium finish in the 35+ doubles, taking third place with Mehdi Liaghat of Fars.
The titles were shared among players from Mazandaran, West Azerbaijan, Golestan and Alborz.
Mohammad Reza Safi, president of the Iranian Pickleball Association, attended the awards ceremony. He was joined by Omid Fatholami, who heads the Alborz district tennis committee and the association's national committee.
Pickleball News Asia described the turnout as solid for a sport that remains young in Iran, suggesting that national events of this kind could open a route towards regional and international competition.