Wushu: Iranian coach to help Sri Lanka prepare for SAG

Sri Lanka Federation of Wushu has hired Iranian coach Abbas Sheibak to train Sri Lankan athletes who will represent the country at the forthcoming 13th South Asian Games (SAG) to be held from December 1 to 10 in Kathmandu, Nepal. 

Coach Sheibak, will arrive in the island on November 9 and he will conduct a coaching camp until November 30. 

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 Iran Junior Wushu team, which won the overall second place in Asian Junior Wushu Championships held in Brunei earlier this year. 

Apart from that he has served as the Chief Coach of Iran team of Pro League from 2015 to 2018. 

As an athlete Sheibak has won the Kick Boxing World Championships in Germany in 2008 and 65kg World Championships 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. 

The visit of the Iranian coach to Sri Lanka was made possible with the assistance of Dr. Mahdi Alinejad, the President of Iran Wushu Federation and Vice President of Wushu Federation of Asia (WFA) on the request of Manel Dharmakeerthie, the President of Wushu Federation of Sri Lanka. 

Both Dr. Alinejad and Dharmakeerthie have a close personal friendship developed while serving in the Wushu Federation of Asia and International Wushu Federation together in various capacities.