Sports

AMMAN — Olympic swimmer Khader Baqleh came agonisingly close to getting Jordan’s campaign on Sunday at the 18th Asian Games off to a medal start after finishing fourth in the final of the 200m freestyle, according to the Jordan Olympic Committee News Service.

Baqleh sailed into the final by winning his heat, but faced a world class field in the final, led by China’s world record holding 2012 Olympic champion Sun Yang.

In a brilliant race, Yang won the gold medal in a time of 1:45.43, more than a second clear of Japan’s Katsuhiro Matsumoto, with another Chinese swimmer, Ji Xinji, coming third. Baqlah could not quite find the pace to break into the top three, finishing in a very credible time of 1:46.77.

“I gave it all I could but couldn’t quite make it into the medal positions,” said Baqlah. “Congratulations though to the other guys. They swam a great race and I look forward to the next one now.”

MILAN — Juventus came from behind to snatch a dramatic 3-2 win at Chievo as Cristiano Ronaldo made his debut for the Italian champions on Saturday, although the Portuguese was not among the scorers in his first Serie A match.

Ronaldo, signed from Real Madrid in July, was thwarted several times by veteran Chievo goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino and his handball in the build-up led to a late Juventus goal being disallowed, following a VAR review.

Napoli, last year’s runners-up, gave new coach Carlo Ancelotti a winning start on his return to Serie A after a nine-year absence when they came from behind to win 2-1 at Lazio in the other match on Saturday, the opening day of the new season.

Sami Khedira put Juventus ahead in the third minute after Giorgio Chiellini knocked down a Miralem Pjanic free kick, as they got off to an ideal start in their bid for an eighth successive title.

Chievo looked outclassed but levelled out of the blue when Mariusz Stepinski was allowed a free header from Emanuele Giaccherini’s cross seven minutes before the break.

It got worse for Juventus when their former player Giaccherini was tripped by Joao Cancelo and converted the penalty against his former club to give Chievo a shock lead in the 56th minute.

Juve levelled when Chievo defender Mattia Bani, under pressure from Leonardo Bonucci, deflected a corner into his own net in the 75th minute.

Juve thought they had won the game when Mario Mandzukic headed home in the last minute but, after a lengthy VAR review, the referee ruled that Ronaldo had handled the ball in the build-up and it was disallowed.

Sorrentino was injured in the incident and was prostate on the ground receiving treatment while players argued around him.

In the next attack, Alex Sandro made a weaving run down the left and his low cross was turned in by Federico Bernardeschi. 

Five-times world player of the year Ronaldo nearly grabbed an early Serie A goal when he shot narrowly wide from the edge of the area shortly after Juve’s opener.

Dipping shot

In the second half, he was foiled when Sorrentino made a brilliant one-handed save from his dipping shot and again when the goalkeeper blocked his free kick.

He had another attempt deflected on to the roof of the next by Fabrizio Cacciatore.

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri was pleased with Ronaldo’s performance but not at the way his side allowed Chievo back into the match.

“We dropped our guard because we thought the game was in hand,” said Allegri, who has won the league and cup double in each of his four seasons at Juventus.

“We needed this reminder right from the start that every match in Serie A is difficult and nothing is to be taken for granted.”

Ancelotti, who has won league titles in England, France and Germany and the Champions League with Real Madrid since leaving AC Milan in 2009, watched his new team make a slow start against Lazio.

Ciro Immobile gave Lazio the lead with a superb individual goal in the 25th minute as he controlled the ball, left three defenders in his wake and curled a shot past Orestis Karnezis.

Arkadiusz Milik had a goal disallowed on the stroke of halftime after a long VAR review, which found that Kalidou Koulibaliy had committed a foul in the build-up, but levelled in the next attack from close range.

Napoli went in front when Lorenzo Insigne curled in a brilliant finish in the 59th minute and never looked in danger after that.

AMMAN — Ali Al Omari has won the 10m pistol title at the National Open Shooting Championship held over the weekend at the Royal Shooting Club, according to the Jordan Olympic Committee News Service. 

The event welcomed 60 male and female shooters. Hazim Al Atiyat took the trap title while Bashar Al Khairi won the skeet title.

Roger Federer continued his mastery over Stan Wawrinka, but not before getting a fright en route to a 6-7(2), 7-6(6), 6-2 quarter-final victory at the Cincinnati Masters on Friday.

Federer upped his career record against his Swiss compatriot to 21-3.

A match that started with a low key atmosphere developed into a cracking affair when Federer took the second set tiebreak as lightning reverberated near the stadium.

Play was finally halted two points into the third set. Federer was in a different class once the match resumed after a short delay.

While Federer narrowly avoided an early exit, another high seed was sent packing, as No. 4 Juan Martin del Potro fell to diminutive Belgian David Goffin 7-6(5), 7-6(4).

Goffin closed out a tight match with a backhand winner down the baseline.

His reward is a Saturday evening semifinal against Federer, while the other last four clash will match former World No. 1 Novak Djokovic of Serbia against Croatia’s Marin Cilic.

It was a busy day for 10th seeded Djokovic, who came from behind to oust defending champion Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, in the conclusion of a third round match carried over from Thursday.

Only a couple of hours later, Djokovic stopped Milos Raonic 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, improving his career record to a perfect 9-0 against the Canadian. 

“I’m very pleased with my fighting spirit and staying mentally tough to overcome deficits in both matches,” Djokovic said.

“Obviously the match against Dimitrov yesterday didn’t start so well for me. He started tremendously well. We were not the only ones [dealing with interruptions], but it just makes it harder, because you’re warming up, you’re cooling down.

“We went home around 10:30, came back this morning again to play him, and then [had a] couple hours of rest.

“And to go back on the court again against Raonic, who was serving 225-plus-kilometres [per hour] from the first game, that got me going, for sure, from the beginning.”

Former champion Cilic made his way to the semifinals with a 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-4 third-round win over Russia’s Karen Khachanov before toppling Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta 7-6(7), 6-4.

Earlier Friday, World No. 2 Federer, bidding for his eighth Cincinnati title, outlasted Leonardo Mayer of Argentina 6-1, 7-6(6) in the third round.

Playing in his first tournament since Wimbledon, Federer lost just four first-serve points and did not face a break point in the match.

Mayer had a chance to force a third set, but Federer held on to win his third consecutive meeting with the Argentine as players double up in matches in the rain-delayed tournament.

Wawrinka beat Marton Fucsovics of Hungary 6-4, 6-3 in their third-round match.

Fourth seed Del Potro overcame Australian Nick Kyrgios 7-6(4), 6-7(6), 6-2.

Goffin did not face a break point in defeating sixth seed Kevin Anderson of South Africa 6-2, 6-4 in 76 minutes.

AMMAN  — Jordan’s national team will soon start the final phase of preparations as teams count down for the 2019 Asian Cup in the UAE.

The squad is set to host Lebanon on September 6 and Oman on September 11 as it gears up for the continent’s most important football event. In case the West Asian Championship is not held officials were contemplating hosting a friendly tournament in November. The team is also set to have a training camp in Qatar in December during which matches against the hosts and Kyrgyzstan have been set ahead of the January 6 Asian Cup kick off.

Jordan last beat Cyprus 3-0 earlier in the summer and players have now started a new season with their respective clubs.

At the Asian Cup, Jordan will play alongside Australia, Syria and Palestine in Group B.

While the team’s path to the championship was not difficult against relatively unknown teams in the Asian continent now comes the serious part. The 24 teams will play in 6 groups with the top two from each group and four third placed teams advancing to the Round of 16. 

The Kingdom’s competitive edge is lacking and judging by FIFA Rankings it seems there will be a tough task ahead. The squad remained 110th when the latest FIFA Rankings were issued over the weekend. Once among Asia’s top 10, Jordan is now 19th in the continent trailing Iran (39), Australia (43), Japan (55), South Korea (57), Saudi Arabia (70), Syria (73), China (75), the UAE (77), Lebanon (79), Oman (84), Iraq (89), Kyrgyzstan (92), Uzbekistan (95), India (96), Qatar (98), Palestine (99) Vietnam (102), North Korea (108). Tunisia is the top-ranked Arab team at 24th, followed by Morocco (46), Egypt (65), Algeria (66) and Saudi Arabia (70).

The national team is now lagging behind relatively uncompetitive Asian teams compared to their best FIFA ranking of 37th in 2004. Jordan ended 2017 at 107th — a position they did not better throughout last year. 

Since first taking part in Asian Cup qualifiers in 1972, Jordan reached the Asian Championship three times. The peak was at the 13th Asian Cup, when it lost to Japan in the quarter-finals and jumped to the best ever FIFA ranking of 37th in August 2004. Jordan also reached the Asian Cup in 2011 and 2015.

After elimination from the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, playing in the Asian finals was a priority for Jordan who have steadily slid down FIFA Rankings and the team has had inconsistent results compared to 2013 when Jordan was on the verge of qualifying to the 2014 World Cup for the first time and advanced to play then World’s 6th ranked Uruguay in an intercontinental qualifying tie. It lost the home game 5-0 and held the former World Cup champs 0-0 in the away match. Jordan had never reached that far in World Cup qualifying since taking part in qualifiers. Round 3 had been the furthest Jordan reached in the past seven qualifiers since 1986. 

Jordan’s lowest ranking was 152nd in 1996.

AMMAN  — The 2018-2019 football season agenda kicked off on Friday when league champs Wihdat beat Jordan Cup champs Jazira in the 36th Jordan Super Cup — the first major competition on the annual football calendar.

Wihdat came from 1-0 down to win the first title of the season 2-1. Jazira club President Mohammad Maharmeh lodged a complaint citing officiating and Wihdat’s controversial first goal. Jazira later announced they would not play in the Jordan Professional Football League.

Last season, Wihdat won the league for a record 16th time. Jazira lost two competition finals conceding the 35th Jordan Super Cup to Faisali and the Jordan Football Association Shield final to Wihdat. Jazira also finished runner-up in the league, but made club history by winning the 38th Jordan Cup final after they last won the Jordan Cup in 1984.

The Super Cup has been won by Faisali a record 16 times out of 22 final appearances, Wihdat 13 times, Ramtha and Shabab Urdun twice each, while Jazira, Hussein and Ahli won once each.

The local and regional agenda gets into high gear as the Jordan Professional Football League kicks off on August 24. Jazira is set to represent Jordan in the Asian Football Confederation AFC Cup, which was twice won by Faisali and once by Shabab Urdun. Earlier last week, Ramtha lost 3-1 to Tunisia’s Etoile Sportive Du Sahel in the Arab Clubs Championship and will host them in the return leg in September. Last year, Faisali finished runner-up in the Arab Championship to Tunisia’s Tarajji after an impressive performance which included two wins over Egyptian veterans Ahli. 

BARCELONA — Change is in the air as the new La Liga season begins on Friday without one of its most emblematic players, Cristiano Ronaldo, and with video technology (VAR) being introduced for the first time in Spain’s top flight.

Ronaldo’s departure from Real Madrid to Serie A giants Juventus deprives Madrid of one of their best players ever and ends the compelling rivalry between the prolific Portuguese and Barcelona’s Lionel Messi which has defined La Liga over the last nine years.

Madrid must not only cope without the man who scored 451 goals for them in all competitions and got them out of many holes, they must also adapt to life without hugely popular coach Zinedine Zidane, who walked out after winning a remarkable third Champions League triumph.

Real’s new coach Julen Lopetegui faces a mammoth task in following Zidane, especially given his poor record at club level and his undignified sacking from the Spain team on the eve of the World Cup for the manner in which he signed for Madrid.

Real have, yet, to reinvest the 105 million euros ($119.43 million) they received for Ronaldo in new attackers — their biggest signing of the close season was Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois — and Lopetegui looks set to make Gareth Bale and Marco Asensio his leading forwards this campaign.

The huge changes at the Santiago Bernabeu should play into the hands of last year’s champions Barcelona, who swept to a Liga and Copa del Rey double and finished a staggering 17 points clear of Madrid.

Barca have adjustments of their own to make, however, with Andres Iniesta, one of the flagbearers of their style of play for much of the 21st century, having left after 16 silverware-filled seasons to see out his career in Japan.

Coach Ernesto Valverde has replenished the midfield by adding Brazilian duo Arthur Melo and Malcom and the highly experienced yet volatile Chile international Arturo Vidal, while getting rid of under-performing players such as Andre Gomes, Lucas Digne, Yerry Mina and Aleix Vidal.

Barca will want to improve on their recent disappointments in the Champions League, having fallen three times in a row at the quarter-final stage while eternal rivals Madrid have monopolised the trophy.

The upheaval at Real Madrid also boosts the hopes of last year’s runners-up Atletico Madrid’s that they could repeat their unlikely title triumph of 2014. 

Atletico have had a busy transfer window in signing electric French winger Thomas Lemar for a club-record 65 million euros and adding Colombia international Santiago Arias and Portugal’s Gelson Martins.

Diego Simeone’s side have lost influential dressing-room figures Gabi Fernandez and Fernando Torres but, crucially, they have clung on to top scorer Antoine Griezmann when he looked certain to join Barcelona.

The introduction of VAR will put to the test the idea that Spanish referees give more favourable decisions to the biggest clubs.

“It will make this sport a little more fair,” said Barcelona defender Gerard Pique.

“I’ve been in favour of it for a long time. There will still be lots of controversy because we love controversy in this country, but it will decrease. It will help referees.”

Below the big three, Valencia will try to balance a Champions League campaign with finishing fourth again but will face stiff competition from a renewed Sevilla as well as Real Betis and Villarreal.

At the other end of the spectrum, tiny Huesca will be competing in Spain’s top fight for the first time while Real Valladolid and Rayo Vallecano make welcome returns to the division.

AMMAN — Jordan’s quest for Asian Games glory will see 35 athletes compete across eight sports, with the initial delegation expected to arrive in Indonesia on Thursday.

The 18th edition of the Asian Games will be held in the cities of Jakarta and Palembang, and Jordan has selected a talented squad capable of pushing for medals following the Opening Ceremony on Saturday.

The team members representing taekwondo, swimming and 3x3 basketball are among the first athletes that will compete for Jordan.

The in-form taekwondo team will be headed by Olympic gold medallist Ahmad Abu Ghaush, who is hoping to be fit following a broken rib, along with Saleh Al Sharabati and Juliana Al Sadeq who both picked up medals at last weekend’s World Taekwondo Grand Prix in Moscow. Hamzeh Qattan, Zaid Mustafa and Rama Abu Al Rub are also capable of medals, with the team coached by Faris Al Assaf and Laith Othman.

Swimmers that are hoping to impress include Olympian Khader Baqleh, Amro Al Wer and Mohammad Al Bdour. They have national coach Ali Al Nawaiseh overseeing their participation.

Baqleh will be hoping to bring his US college form to the Asian pool in the 100m, 200m and 400m Freestyle as well as the 200m Medley. Al Wer goes in the 50m, 100m and 200m Breaststroke events, and Bdour is entered into the 50m,100m Freestyle races and the 50m Butterfly.

Meanwhile, the 3x3 Basketball team consisting of Omar Al Bukhari, Rayan Jarad, Hanna Juha and Shaker Shubair will be making their Asian Games debut.

Following this initial delegation, athletes representing karate, boxing, athletics, judo and jujitsu will be making their way to southeast Asia to compete.

Double world champion Fernando Alonso will retire from Formula One at the end of the season, his team McLaren said in a statement late Tuesday.

The 37-year-old Spaniard is competing in his 17th Formula One season and his fifth with McLaren, and has been widely tipped to race in the Indianapolis 500 next year as he attempts to win the ‘Triple Crown of Motorsport’.

Alonso, a double Monaco Grand Prix winner, won the Le Mans 24 Hours on his debut with Toyota in June this year and is ninth in the Formula One drivers’ championship standings.

“After 17 wonderful years in this amazing sport, it’s time for me to make a change and move on,” Alonso said.

“There are still several Grands Prix to go this season, and I will take part in them with more commitment and passion than ever.”

McLaren worked with Andretti Autosport to field a car for Alonso for the 2017 Indy 500 where the Spaniard put himself in contention leading for 27 laps before suffering an engine failure with 21 laps remaining.

McLaren has been exploring the possibility of working again with Andretti to field an IndyCar team to run the entire series next year or might consider putting together their own team. 

Ryan Hunter-Reay, winner of the 2014 Indy 500 and a teammate of Alonso’s with Andretti for the one race, said the Spaniard would be welcomed back and would be a great addition to the series. 

“It would be appealing to me if I were him,” said Hunter-Reay during a conference call ahead of this weekend’s IndyCar race at Pocono. 

“I spent time with him as his team mate and know he’s as hungry as ever to win.

“We worked very well together and would welcome him no doubt but I have no idea where this whole thing is going right now.

“I don’t know where McLaren stands with it... a lot of speculation at the moment but I think he would be a great addition to IndyCar and have a lot of fun here.”

Alonso thanked Formula One Chief Executive Chase Carey and the sport’s owner Liberty Media Corp. for trying to get him to change his mind and left the door open on a possible return to the circuit.

“I know [McLaren] will come back stronger and better in the future and it could be the right moment for me to be back in the series; that would make me really happy,” he added.

“I made this decision some months ago and it was a firm one. Nevertheless, I would like to sincerely thank Chase Carey and Liberty Media for the efforts made to change my mind.”

Fellow Spaniard Carlos Sainz, who will lose his place on the Renault team to Daniel Ricciardo next season, is a strong contender to replace Alonso along with McLaren reserve driver Lando Norris.

Sainz was loaned to Renault by Red Bull for 2018 after the French manufacturer needed a replacement for under-performing Briton Jolyon Palmer.

Alonso started his Formula One career with the now-defunct Minardi team in 2001 and moved to Renault two years later. He became the youngest world champion in Formula One history with Renault in 2005, winning again the following year.

His storied career has included 32 wins, 22 pole positions and 97 podiums so far, although he has not won a race since wining the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix with Ferrari. He has not finished on the podium since rejoining McLaren in 2015.

“There is a time for everyone to make a change and Fernando has decided the end of this season to be his,” McLaren Chief Executive Zak Brown said.

“We respect his decision, even if we believe he is in the finest form of his career.”