Saeed Derakhshandeh Named Control Committee President

Article courtesy Rahim Rahimzadeh; Julie Haake contributed to this report.

Saeed Derakhshandeh Named Control Committee President for the 12th Asian Men’s U18 Volleyball Championship of Tabriz

International volleyball tournaments are greatly affected by lack of financial support. The FIVB and its five affiliated confederations considered reducing the financial burden in hosting competitions by adopting new procedures. Authorities of the FIVB and AVC have decided to cut the organizing expenses in each championship to bring down the costs of volleyball events.

In regards to this decision, Mr. Essa Hamzah, the FIVB Executive Vice President and Chairman of the AVC Finance Committee, stated: “…The committee members nominated to officiate at any future AVC championship should get use of services from local and neighboring countries.”

The AVC has nominated Saeed Derakhshandeh of Iran as the chairman to officiate the 12th Asian men’s championship, which will be run in Tabriz from June 29th through July 6th, 2018. For the first time, six out of 11 control committee members serving in Tabriz are Iranian. Saeed Derakhshandeh is a member of the AVC sports events council and director of the international events of the Iran volleyball federation. He has also served as chairman and Control Committee member in several international events in several countries around the world.

Control Committee Members

• Control Committee President: Mr. Saeed Derakhshandeh (IRI)
• Technical Delegate: Mr. Jaksuwan Tocharoen (THA)
• Technical Sub Committee: Mr. Omidvar Hatami (IRI)
• Technical Sub Committee: Mr. Somporn Sodtisuporn (THA)
• Referee Delegate: Mr. Songsak Chareonpong (THA)
• Referee Sub Committee: Mr. Abdoullah Alenezi (KUW)
• Referee Sub Committee: Mr. Masoud Yazdanpanah (IRI)
• Medical Delegate: Dr. Ramin Tabatabaee (IRI)
• Press Delegate: Mrs. Maryam Hessaby Dehbaneh (IRI)
• VIS Delegate: Mr. Mortaza Afjehee (IRI)
• Official Photographer: Mr. Phongphakthana Prachong Kitpaanich (THA)

“First it was decided that the championship be held in two levels. Those teams who were in the second level made an objection to this decision. They were saying [many of the players are going to the playground for the first time, so the talent level of the team is unknown. Therefore, dividing the teams into two levels would be unfair.] The Asian confederation reviewed the objection and were satisfied with the complaint reasons and changed the competition system by dividing 18 teams into 3 groups. All the teams from the first game will compete against each other in an equal level. The four best teams of this championship would get an entry ticket for the world boys’ U19 volleyball championship. This is the most important matter the championship,” Derakhshandeh explained.