Iran national volleyball team head coach Raul Lozano believes that winning a medal at 2016 Rio Olympics will be amazing but he cannot promise it will happen at the tournament.

Last week, Iran volleyball team made history by earning its first-ever Olympic Games qualification for 52 years in Tokyo, Japan.
“I’m extremely happy that I could share my happiness with Iranian people. Reaching the Olympic Games for the first time is a historic achievement for Iranian volleyball team which has not done just by me or the players, this was a long journey started five years ago when Julio Velasco came here.

“I would like to thank Velasco and Juan Manuel Cichello, who built up the team and did a great job which we can take advantage of that,” Lozano told in an interview with Iran Volleyball Federation official website.

Winning a medal in the Olympic Games in volleyball is another dream for Iranian fans but Lozano stated that he cannot promise that.

“The only thing I can promise to the Iranian fans is that all of the players and technical staff will make every effort to make them happy. If we try our best the result will come. Finishing on a podium in Olympics depends on multiple things while we should not forget that world’s greatest teams will take part at the Olympics and winning a medal there is not easy at all,” the Argentine added.

Iran has been pitted against London 2012 gold medalist Russia, World Championship 2014 winner Poland, Argentina, Cuba and Egypt in Pool B of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Pool A consists of host Brazil, FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Cup winner and runner-up USA and Italy respectively, FIVB Volleyball World League and European champion France, Mexico and Canada.

The Rio 2016 Olympic Games men’s volleyball tournament runs from August 6 until August 20.
SG