Iran provides Sanda Coach to Sri Lanka to train SA Games Wushuites

Monday, 4 November 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Islamic Republic of Iran, an emerging world power in Wushu Sanda (Combat Event of Wushu) that challenges the dominance of China in Wushu, will send one of its national coaches, Abbas Sheibak, to train Sri Lankan Wushu Sanda players who are slated to represent Sri Lanka in the forthcoming 13th South Asian Games to be held in Kathmandu Nepal in December.

He will arrive in Sri Lanka on 9 November and train Sri Lankan Wushuites until 30 November. This visit was made possible by Iran Wushu Federation President and Wushu Federation of Asia (WFA) Vice President Dr. Mahdi Alinejad, on the request of Wushu Federation of Sri Lanka President Manel Dharmakeerthie, as result of the close personal friendship developed between them while serving in the Wushu Federation of Asia and International Wushu Federation together in various capacities.

Coach Sheibak, a PhD holder in Sports Management, has vast experience as a Sanda coach. He trained the Iran National Team which won the overall Sanda Championship in 2018 World University Games held in Macau, China. He was also the Chief Coach of the Iran National Junior Wushu Team, which won the overall second place in the Asian Junior Wushu Championships held in Brunei in 2019, and the Chief Coach of the Iranian team of Pro League from 2015 to 2018. As a player he has won the Kick Boxing World Championship in Germany in 2008, and the 65 Kg World Championship in Wushu Sanda. He is accompanied by Ali Tahmasbikhanbariri, a Sinhala-speaking Iranian provided by Dr. Alinejad to assist Coach Sheibak to communicate easily with the players.