China overcame Japan in women’s final, while Iran defeated China to take men’s title
The IBSA Asia-Pacific Goalball Championships 2025 concluded on Tuesday with Iran and China clinching the men’s and women’s titles respectively after a week of thrilling contests at the Liaquat Gymnasium of Pakistan Sports Complex, Islamabad.
In the women’s final, China overcame their arch-rivals Japan 2–1 in a tightly contested encounter to successfully defend their title. Both sides exhibited remarkable defensive discipline and tactical control, but China maintained composure in the dying minutes to edge past Japan and retain their continental supremacy.
Earlier, South Korea secured the women’s bronze medal, outclassing Thailand 6–0 in a one-sided match that highlighted their superior precision and teamwork.
In the men’s final, powerhouse Iran maintained their dominance by defeating China 4–2 in a fiercely fought battle.
Iran combined tactical awareness with sharp finishing to capture another gold for their country. China fought hard but could not break through Iran’s well-organized defense.
Meanwhile, in the men’s bronze medal match, Thailand edged past Australia 5–4 in a nail-biting encounter that went down to the wire, earning the Southeast Asian nation a well-deserved podium finish.
The week-long championship brought together top goalball teams from across the region, including Iran, China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Australia, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan.
Hosted by Pakistan Blind Sports Federation (PBSF) in collaboration with Pakistan Sports Board and International Blind Sports Federation, the championship serves as qualifier for the IBSA World Championships.
Earlier, in the first men’s semifinal, Iran edged out Thailand 3–2 in a thrilling contest that kept spectators on the edge of their seats.
China joined them in the final after overcoming Australia 7–4 in the second semifinal.
The Chinese side maintained their dominance throughout the match, combining sharp attacks with disciplined teamwork to ensure a comfortable win.
Earlier in the men’s quarterfinals, Iran thrashed Uzbekistan 11–1, Thailand narrowly defeated South Korea 10–9, China outplayed Saudi Arabia 12–2, and Australia beat Kazakhstan 7–2.
In the women’s semifinals, China beat Thailand 6–3 while Japan blanked South Korea 4–0 to set up an exciting China–Japan final.
