The first season of the Iranian Men’s Beach Handball Premier League – one of the first organised club Beach Handball competitions in Asia – recently concluded in the Islamic Republic of Iran. 

The championship started with two, initial regional competitions taking place in northern and southern Iran.

Preliminary rounds were held from 12 to 18 August in the northern city of Bandar Anzali and Kish Island in the south. 

In the northern region, five teams took part: Mazandaran (Mazandaran Province), Bandar Anzali Municipality (Mazandaran), Shahreri Ground Forces (Tehran), Setaregan/National Youth Team (Tehran) and Doulatabad (Isfahan), while the southern region saw Farzad Kish Hotel (Hormozgan), Kalang Hormozgan (Hormozgan), Fajr Shahid Shabani/Kangan (Bushehr) and Aratail (Isfahan) in competition.

The top four teams in each of the two regions then went through to the finals in the central Iranian city of Isfahan from 29 August to 1 September, with Doulatabad the only side not making it through from the initial nine.

In the end, the team representing the Mazandaran province in northern Iran, on the southern edge of the Caspian Sea won the title, defeating Farzad Kish Hotel 2-0 in the final. Ali Heidarian, who was recently selected for the IHF Beach Handball Showcase in Paris, but eventually could not make it on the sandy courts in the French capital, finished as the event top scorer.

“We are very happy that this first championship was held and I hope it will continue,” said Iraj Soltani, coach of Mazandaran, to ihf.info. “Iran is full of talented players in Beach Handball – our men’s youth team won bronze at the 2022 IHF Men’s Youth Beach Handball World Championship – so it should be given more attention. Fortunately, the Islamic Republic of Iran Handball Federation (IRIHF) has given it importance and continues to invest in the sport.”

Iran can currently boast more than 300 Beach Handball players and coaches spread over 30 clubs across the nation – and there plans to further expand the reach and talent pool in the future.

“Holding the first edition of the Men’s Beach Handball Premier League was the first step in the development of this sport,” explained Seyed Hassan Eftekhari, Secretary General of the Iranian Beach Handball Committee, part of the IRIHF Executive, to ihf.info.

“With the entry of the private sector and various sponsors, plus the media coverage and television broadcast of these competitions and the development of women’s – we held a centralised women’s competition earlier this year – and youth competitions, we are taking more steps forward with the sport.”

And for Gholamhossein Nikouei, President of the Iranian Beach Handball Committee, part of the IRIHF Executive, it was clear the inaugural edition of the league will have long-lasting effects.

“The purpose of holding the league is to hold it regularly in order to identify this field to Iranian families, as well as discover the talents of this field and invest in young players to participate in Asian and world competitions,” he said to ihf.info.

“Beach Handball has been of interest in Iran for a long time, and in the last few years, more attention has been paid to it.  Due to the existence of the coastal strip in the north and south of Iran, as well as holding the first season of the Beach Handball Premier League – and, of course, having the good potential of young and energetic players – it is hoped that this field will continue its growing trend.

“Considering this was the first time we held the league; we had good experiences and will definitely continue to hold these games in the Premier League. Most of our Beach Handball players are from the northern and southern cities of Iran and most of the competitions are held at the level of provinces and regions, but with the holding of this first season of the beach league, it will definitely receive more attention in the future.

“Our next plan is to hold regional and provincial leagues and select national teams to participate in Asian and global competitions.”

With Qatar hosting the 2024 IHF Beach Handball Global Tour Finals later this year, The World Games taking place in China next year and plans for the Asian Handball Federation to host Asian Club Beach Handball Championships in the future, Beach Handball in Asia continues to grow with the Iranian Men’s Beach Handball Premier League – and additional events – set to be part of that growth.

2024 Men’s Iranian Beach Handball League – Finals: Results

Semi-Finals
Mazandaran vs Kalang Hormozgan 2-1
Farzad Kish Hotel vs Aratail 2-0

3/4 Placement/Bronze
Aratail vs Kalang Hormozgan 2-1

Final
Mazandaran vs Farzad Kish Hotel 2-0

2024 Men’s Iranian Beach Handball League - Ranking

Finals
1 Mazandaran
2 Farzad Kish Hotel
3 Aratail

Regional, Preliminary Rankings

Northern Section
1 Mazandaran
2 Bandar Anzali Municipality
3 Shahreri Ground Forces
4 Setaregan/National Youth Team
5 Doulatabad (Isfahan)

Southern Section
1 Farzad Kish Hotel
2 Kalang Hormozgan
3 Fajr Shahid Shabani/Kangan
4 Aratail (Isfahan)