TEHRAN - Sitting volleyball coach Hadi Rezaei has been named as Iran’s chef de mission for the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

Rezaei also was Iran’s chef de mission for the 2018 Asian Para Games, where the Iranian delegation moved one place up to finish in third place.

Iran won 51 gold, 42 silver and 43 bronze medals in the Games held in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Rezaei is one of the Iranian most decorated para athletes and coaches.

He won three consecutive Paralympic Games gold medals in 1988 (Seoul), 1992 (Barcelona) and 1996 (Atlanta) as a player.

As a coach, Rezaei also led Iran sitting volleyball team to three Paralympics gold medals in Sydney 2000, Beijing 2008 and Rio 2016 and two silvers in Athens 2004 and London 2012.