By Reza AbeshAhmadlou, AUSF Student Media Contributor
May 14, 2026
Iran – Iran’s university basketball scene crowned two new national champions after an intense week of 3×3 competition, with the women’s team of Payame Noor University and the men’s squad from Toos Institute of Higher Education earning the right to represent the country at the 8th Asian University 3×3 Basketball Championship in Zhoushan, China on June 12-14.
The tournaments, held separately in Mashhad and Shahroud on May 12-14, showcased the rapid growth of 3×3 basketball among Iranian university athletes and highlighted a new generation determined to balance academic ambitions with elite athletic performance.
Women’s Champions Built on Chemistry, Experience
The women’s competition, hosted by Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, featured six university teams competing in a round-robin format. From the opening games, Payame Noor University Tehran established itself as the team to beat, combining tactical discipline, defensive intensity and years of shared experience.
Their decisive 21-11 victory over host team Ferdowsi University in the final stages of the tournament secured the national title and a ticket to China. The host university finished second, while the University of Tehran claimed third place.
One of the central figures behind the championship run was Reihaneh Salehi, a player whose résumé already includes national youth camps, international appearances and domestic 3×3 titles. Salehi said the team’s greatest strength was not simply technical skill, but the familiarity and unity built through previous competitions together.
“We knew each other’s game,” she explained after the tournament. “That understanding and our desire to become champions made the difference.”
What makes their chemistry even more remarkable is that the team had limited opportunities to train together in Tehran due to restricted access to courts and equipment. As a result, the players arrived in Mashhad just a day before the event, holding hours of training to quickly rebuild coordination.
Despite those obstacles, Payame Noor dominated the field. The team defeated Shahid Beheshti University 21-6 and later overwhelmed Ferdowsi University to seal the championship.
Salehi believes the 8th Asian University 3×3 Basketball Championship in China will present an even greater challenge. She described international university basketball as highly competitive, but expressed confidence that Iran’s representatives have enough time to address weaknesses before the continental tournament begins in June.
Toos Institute Captures Men’s Crown in Thriller
The men’s championship delivered equally dramatic moments. Hosted by Shahrood University of Technology, the tournament featured 15 university teams from across the country and was held in memory of the late Dr. Mohammadreza Boroumand, a respected figure in Iranian university sports.
In a tense final, Toos Institute of Higher Education edged Payame Noor University Tehran 21-19 in one of the tournament’s closest contests. The victory secured both the national title and qualification for the 8th Asian University 3×3 Basketball Championship in China.
The championship team was led by players such as Soroush Moshiri, a student-athlete with seven years of professional basketball experience and multiple domestic titles in Iran’s first and second divisions.
Moshiri described the team’s success as the result of ambition, composure and trust in one another during high-pressure moments.
“Our desire to prove ourselves helped us perform at our best,” he said. “The coach’s advice, staying calm in critical moments and the support of teammates all played major roles.”
Like the women’s champions, the Toos squad faced preparation challenges after the competition schedule was announced on short notice. Moshiri said the team had limited time to organize structured practices, though support from the university and coaching staff allowed players to hold several key training sessions before the event.
Moshiri emphasized that succeeding in 3×3 basketball requires complete readiness — physically, mentally and tactically.
“These games are extremely high-pressure,” he said. “You must be prepared in every aspect.”
Meanwhile, in the third-place match, Shahid Beheshti University claimed the bronze medal with a commanding 21-9 victory over the University of Tehran.
