Iran players focus on Asian Cup despite concern for families stuck in military conflict

Iran forward Sara Didar ‌fought back tears when journalists asked her about the escalating military conflict in her country, as coach Marziyeh Jafari ​said her players were doing their best to focus on the Women’s Asian Cup campaign despite concern for their families back home.

The conflict erupted after the US and Israel launched air strikes on Iran over the weekend, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, after ‌which Iran launched ‌missiles at countries on ​the ‌Arabian ⁠Peninsula.

“Obviously we’re ​all concerned ⁠and sad at what has happened to Iran and our families in Iran and our loved ones, but I really hope it’s very good for our country, to have good news ahead and I hope that my country would be ⁠strongly alive,” 21-year-old Didar said on ‌Wednesday.

Iran lost their opening ‌Group A game to South Korea ​3-0 on Monday and ‌face hosts Australia on Thursday at the ‌Gold Coast Stadium.

Australia midfielder Amy Sayer earlier praised the courage of the Iranian players for competing in the continental tournament despite their homeland facing political unrest and ‌military strikes.

Coach Jafari said the Iranian team wanted to make their Iranian-Australian supporters ⁠proud.

“We have ⁠so much concern regarding our families and the people in Iran,” she said. “Nobody loves war ... but here, we are coming to play football professionally and we do our best to concentrate on our football and match ahead.”

“Iranian-Australians here support us, we are so happy to have a country that all the people are united and supportive and we really love them also ​as well and we’ll ​do our best to make them proud.”

TANGIER: France’s Pierre Pineau holds a one-shot lead heading into the final round of the Hilton Classic at Al-Houara Golf Club in Tangier after battling to a two-under-par 70 in arguably the most challenging conditions of the MENA Golf Tour season so far.

Italy’s Jacopo Vecchi Fossa produced a stunning six-under 66 to storm into contention despite the torrential afternoon rain.

Pineau, who began the day on three-under par, made four birdies against two bogeys to move to five under overall and head a congested leaderboard.

He navigated the morning conditions well enough, reaching the turn one-under for his round, before digging deep on the back nine as the weather deteriorated sharply.

“On the back nine I just fought as hard as I could,” Pineau said. “The rain was not so much about distance, it was more about the ball sliding on the face on chips and wedges. I have played in tough, changing weather before so I felt comfortable adapting.”

“It would mean a lot to win because I have struggled over the last 12 months, so it would be a big boost of confidence,” he added. “After today my confidence is in a good place.”

Three players share second place on four-under par. England’s Curtis Knipes carded a composed 71, making birdies at the ninth, 13th and 15th to offset bogeys at the first and 17th and maintain his challenge.

Pakistan’s Aadam Syed also signed for a 71, his four birdies countered by three dropped shots in a battling round he described as a constant test of patience.

“It was a real battle out there today,” Syed said. “Yesterday was windy but it eased over the last six holes and you could start firing at flags. Today it was constant all day, so patience was key.”

Syed, who had his father on the bag, is chasing a first title. “To win on the MENA Golf Tour would mean a great deal,” he said. “I have not won as a professional yet, so to tick that off would be huge and would confirm to myself that I am good enough.”

The third member of the second-place trio was the story of the day. Fossa, who started on the first tee, produced a flawless six-under 66, featuring four birdies and an eagle at the 10th, all without a bogey despite the increasingly brutal afternoon conditions.

“Honestly, I don’t really know how I did it,” Vecchi Fossa said. “On the back nine it was rain and wind the whole way and I was hitting hybrid and three wood into par fours straight into the wind. It was crazy out there.

“The hardest part was gripping the club with so much water, but I managed to hit a lot of fairways and the putts went in, which made the difference.”

France’s Andoni Etchenique and overnight leader Aron Zemmer, who slipped back with a two-over 74, share fifth place on three-under par.

Ireland’s Alex Maguire, the round one co-leader, dropped two shots to sit at two under with New Zealand’s Luke Kidd and Ireland’s Paul McBride in a tie for seventh.

Ayoub Lguirati remains the highest-placed Moroccan heading into the final round, the home favorite signing for a 74 to sit on two-over par in a share of 20th place, with compatriots Ayoub Ssouadi and Issam Nakrou also making the cut.

The final round of the Hilton Classic gets underway on Wednesday, with the $100,000 prize fund and Official World Golf Ranking points on the line.

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