Iranian spiker Amir Ghafour to miss Tokyo Olympic qualification

TEHRAN - Amir Ghafour the spiker of Iran national volleyball team have missed the 2020 men's Asian Olympic qualification to be played in Tokyo, Tehran Times daily reported on Wednesday.

According to the report, Ghafour has sustained a back injury and will have to undergo a forced stop.

Ghafour is playing for the Italian Lube Civitanova, who claimed the title of 2019 World Club Volleyball Championship in Betim, Brazil in early December.

Ghafour's absence will be a big blow to the Iranian team who have been drawn in Pool A along with China, Chinese Taipei and Kazakhstan in Tokyo Olympic volleyball qualification.

Iran will start the campaign with a match against Chinese Taipei on Jan 7 and meet Kazakhstan and China in the following days.

The injury will keep Ghafour out six to eight weeks, the report said.