{
  "id": 8705046,
  "title": "Iran 'put hearts on the court' to win Asian Games basketball bronze",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/iran-put-hearts-on-the-court-to-win-asian-games-basketball-bronze-8705046",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-20T14:10:30.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Recorder",
    "slug": "business-recorder",
    "url": "https://www.brecorder.com/news/40440375/iran-put-hearts-on-the-court-to-win-asian-games-basketball-bronze"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "NAGOYA: In a remarkable feat, Iran overcame a late surge from China to clinch the bronze medal in men's basketball at the Asian Games on Sunday. The achievement came after months of conflict back in Iran, leaving the players \"speechless\" by their success. Facing a 31-29 deficit at halftime, Iran stormed back in the third quarter, taking control and finishing the game with a 79-70 victory. Power forward Arsalan Kazemi, the first Iranian drafted by the NBA in 2013 but never playing a regular season game, expressed his disbelief at the team's resilience. \"The pressure that we had on us is just out of this world,\" he admitted. \"Not a lot of athletes can say that, with the way that it has been since almost six months ago, what we have been through, what our families have been through.\" Kazemi praised his teammates for putting their \"hearts on the court\" to secure the win and bring joy to the Iranian people. Fellow forward Arman Zangeneh emphasized the significance of the medal for the players. \"If you get the medal at the Asian Games you don’t need to go to the army any more, so it’s huge for some players,\" he noted. The team's journey was no easy feat, as they had recently returned from the Philippines for the qualifiers and were now living in cramped conditions while competing. Despite the hardships, the players celebrated their victory and the emotional moment on the podium.",
  "summary": "NAGOYA: Iran withstood a late fightback to beat China 79-70 and win Asian Games men’s basketball bronze on Sunday, an achievement that left their players “speechless” after months of war back home. China led 31-29 at half-time in Nagoya, but Iran took charge in the third quarter to lead 55-46 going into the fourth and held on to spark wild celebrations and an emotional place on the podium. “To be…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
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        "title": "HT Morning Brief September 20: Crime Branch to probe IIT-B student’s death; Rahul’s Indore event row; Asian Games",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/ht-morning-brief-september-20-crime-branch-to-probe-iit-b-students",
        "published": "2026-09-20T05:12:18.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Island Sri Lanka",
        "title": "Shafali dazzles with 49-ball unbeaten 100 and India march into Asian Games final",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/shafali-dazzles-with-49-ball-unbeaten-100-and-india-march-into-asian",
        "published": "2026-09-20T09:59:38.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "‘It was only so‑so’: China’s Yu Zidi, 13, vows faster swims after Asian Games gold",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/it-was-only-so-so-chinas-yu-zidi-13-vows-faster-swims-after-asian",
        "published": "2026-09-20T10:38:34.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Iran 'put hearts on the court' to win Asian Games basketball bronze",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/iran-put-hearts-on-the-court-to-win-asian-games-basketball-bronze",
        "published": "2026-09-20T11:32:21.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Times",
        "title": "Asim Khan reaches MMA semi-finals at Asian Games",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/asim-khan-reaches-mma-semi-finals-at-asian-games",
        "published": "2026-09-20T13:27:54.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "Asian Games: Pakistan off to flying start in hockey, poor show in other sports",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/asian-games-pakistan-off-to-flying-start-in-hockey-poor-show-in-other",
        "published": "2026-09-20T18:10:45.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}