Why did Asian Games bronze medalist Alamiyan become so strong? Afshin Badiee reveals the secret

O-KOKU PLUS Exclusive Interview Part 1

Iran’s medallist Noshad ALAMIYAN stirred up online buzz at the Asian Games as the subject of “illegal Service allegations.” But Service alone was not the reason he made it onto the podium. Iran is still under tension with the United States and Israel, yet Alamiyan continues his Table tennis career in France. Afshin Badiee, former Executive Managing Director of the Iran Table Tennis Association, who knows him well, agreed to discuss the Table tennis situation in the country in an interview.

Afshin Badiee
Afshin Badiee
Former Executive Managing Director of the Iran Table Tennis Association, former Secretary General of the Asian Table Tennis Union (ATTU). As ATTU’s promotion and development officer, he has overseen junior development camps and coaching seminars across Asian countries. He has managed Iranian national team players such as Noshad ALAMIYAN and Benyamin FARAJI, who are active on the world stage, since childhood.

Noshad ALAMIYAN, who defeated Tomokazu. HARIMOTO of Japan in the Men's Singles Quarter-final at the Asian Games to win a medal

Interview by Noboru Konno

A true Table tennis family, and things picked up when a North Korean coach came to Iran

●― Afshin, please tell us about Alamiyan’s background from his junior days.

Afshin　I’ve always been his manager, so I’ve been with him from the very beginning. When it comes to Alamiyan (Noshad ALAMIYAN) or FARAJI (Benyamin FARAJI), there’s no one better to talk to than me. I also manage FARAJI.

　Let me start with Noshad’s career. He was born in 1991 in northern Iran. He comes from a pure Table tennis family. His uncle was one of the top national team players in Iran at the time, and his father also had the record of being selected for the B team and, on several occasions, the A team. He truly comes from a family deeply rooted in Table tennis.

　They set up a Table in their garage at home and created their own small practice space. Noshad had been involved in Table tennis since he was four or five years old. When his father and uncle practiced, young Noshad would go along with them. Because he was already handling a Racket from such an early age, he quickly improved his skills as a Table tennis player.

　There were several important turning points in his development. Of course, the fact that he himself was extremely talented and had great potential, and that he grew up in a Table tennis family, certainly had a major influence. But for me, one of the biggest turning points that shaped his style was 2006.