Jordan ends youth Olympic adventure

AMMAN — Jordan’s six-strong team was to return to Amman empty handed after Thursday’s performance in the swimming pool at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, but the experience of competing in a major multi-sport event for the first time “will prove invaluable”, the Jordan Olympic Committee said in a statement. Swimmer Lydia Musleh finished third in her 50m freestyle heat with 27.66 seconds, a second behind winner Rahim Soharmi of Sri Lanka, while Khader Baqlah was also third in his 100m freestyle heat (51.73sec), to finish 20th, with only the top 16 qualifying. Khader’s time was a new personal best and brings him closer to the qualifying mark for the World Championships (51.12sec). “This participation was beneficial for our athletes who were excellent role models in their commitment to representing Jordan,” the statement quoted JOC Secretary General Lana Al Jaghbeer as saying. “It wasn’t about winning medals here, it was about giving our youngsters the chance to experience a major event and let them compete with the best from across the world. This can only bode well for their future participation at major events.”