Iran signs off with 98 medals in Baku

The 4th edition of Islamic Solidarity Games wrapped up in Baku on Monday with Iran finishing third overall though they had ranked second four years ago in Indonesia.


Following ten days of serious and head-to-head competitions among about 4,000 athletes participating from 54 countries, the multisport and multinational event came to an end in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku.


The final hours of the prestigious tournament were proved sweet for the Persians as they completed the games with two gold medals in the table tennis team finals at the Sarhadchi Arena on Monday.


Comprising Alamian brothers Noshad and Nima, as well as Afshin Noroozi, the Iranian table tennis outfit overcame Turkey 3-1 to win the gold medal.


Earlier that day, women's trio of Iran, consisting of Neda Shahsavari, Maryam Samet and Mahshid Ashtari, securing a gripping 3-1 win over hosts Azerbaijan to take the crown.


Overall. the Iranian caravan collected 98 medals including 39 golds, 26 silvers and 33 bronzes, to occupy the third position in the table of medals. In the meantime, Iranian athletes managed to set a number of praiseworthy records like hat-trick by three athletes in diving and zurkhaneh categories as well as winning of gold by all six members of wushu squad.


Meanwhile, the country's overall ranking is one spot below what had been achieved during the third edition of Islamic Solidarity Games held in Palembang of Indonesia in 2013. Iran had also landed second in the first edition of the event convened in 2005 in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.


In Baku, Iran entered the table of medals by ranking fifth while they jumped to the third spot on the fourth day and, despite having double as many athletes as the previous editions, failed to catch up with Azerbaijan and Turkey who finished first and second overall.


Azerbaijan brought the 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games to an end with a sparkling closing ceremony at Baku's Olympic Stadium on Monday night, as the host nation celebrated finishing top of the medals table. Azerbaijan finished on the top of the medal count table with 162 medals (75 gold, 50 silvers and 37 bronzes).


Turkey, despite having collected more medals than title-winner Azerbaijan, claimed the second spot with 195 medals (71 gold, 67 silvers, 57 bronzes).


Uzbekistan, Bahrain, Algeria, Morocco, Indonesia, Egypt and Kyrgyzstan have earned the 4th to 10th places respectively.


The 4th Islamic Solidarity Games started in Baku, Azerbaijan, on May 12 under the motto 'Solidarity is Our Strength' and wrapped up on May 22, 2017.

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