Volleyball hits new heights

IT might sound counter-productive to deploy the second-tallest man on earth in a sport played from a seated position, but there’s a reason why 8ft 1in Iranian Morteza Mehrzad plays sitting volleyball. And he’s got a gold medal to show for it.

Mehrzad has one leg six inches shorter than the other — the result of a road accident in childhood — which makes balance hard in everyday life. But his height is a colossal advantage in his sport — one that has helped Iran conquer all-comers in Tokyo, culminating in a 3-1 victory over Russian Paralympic Committee in yesterday’s final.