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Wihdat take top spot as Week 9 kicks off

By - Nov 22,2017 - Last updated at Nov 23,2017

AMMAN — Wihdat took over the Jordan Professional Football League lead on points as Week 9 kicks off on Thursday.

Former champs Wihdat beat Aqaba 2-0 to lead the pack ahead of an expected easy matc

h against Yarmouk. Ramtha dropped to second after they just managed goalless draw with That Ras. They next play Baqa’a who lost to Hussein 5-1 as the latter climbed to 8th. Jazira are third after a 1-0 win over Yarmouk before playing That Ras.

Shabab Urdun are fourth after 1-0 win over Manshieh ahead of their match against newcomers Aqaba. Faisali are 6th after a 1-0 win over Ahli and next play Manshieh, while Ahli play Hussein.

Ramtha have so far upset all former champs beating Faisali, Shabab Urdun and Wihdat to remain second for now. Ahli’s Mahmoud Wadi and Wihat’s Bahaa Faisali lead the top scorers list with 8 goals.

So far this season, reigning League and Jordan Cup champs Faisali beat Jazira to win the 35th Jordan Super Cup. Wihdat beat Jazira to win the Jordan Football Association Shield.

Last year, Faisali won their 33rd league title after a four year break and combined it with the Jordan Cup. Ahli beat reigning league champs Wihdat to win the Super Cup, Shabab Urdun beat Faisali to win their second Shield title after they first won in 2007. Sarih and Sahab were relegated, and replaced by Aqaba and Yarmouk from the First Division.

Jordan karate stars off to Japan

By - Nov 22,2017 - Last updated at Nov 22,2017

AMMAN — Jordan’s quest for vital Olympic karate ranking points continues this week with the team heading to Japan for the fourth and final round of the Karate 1-Series A league, according to the Jordan Olympic Committee News Service.

Taking place in Okinawa, the team includes Bashar Al Najjar (-67kg), Mahmoud Al Sajjan (-84kg), Mohammad Fahed (-60kg), Majdeh Al Bashayreh (-55kg), Hala Turaish (-68kg) and Aseel Al Nu’aimi (-61kg). Mu’een Al Fa’uri is the chef de mission while coaches Ibrahim Abu Al Eddam and Mohammad Fetian have been putting the fighters through their final preparations. Manar Sha’ath is travelling as administrative support.

The tournament will run over the weekend. The Karate 1-Series A complements the Karate 1-Premier League events as first-class Karate international competitions. Newly created, the Series offers karatekas from all over the world the opportunity to increase their ranking positions.

Jordan ju-jitsu team in search of world titles

By - Nov 22,2017 - Last updated at Nov 22,2017

AMMAN — Jordan’s high flying ju-jitsu stars are heading to South America in a bid to be the world’s best at the World Ju-Jitsu Championships being held in Bogota, Colombia, from November 24-26, according to the Jordan Olympic Committee News Service.

The team has been training hard over the last few weeks under coach, Zeid Abu Al S’oud, to prepare for the event which will welcome over 300 fighters from 39 countries.

Abdulmajeed Al Fa’uri (-69kg), Mohammad Khair (-69kg), Haidar Rasheed (-85kg), Bader Khuza’I (-85kg), Hamzeh Al Rasheed (-77kg) and Zeid Sami (-94kg) make up Team Jordan which is looking to build on their recent success at the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games where they won seven medals.

Jordan’s handball women’s team step up preparations

By - Nov 22,2017 - Last updated at Nov 22,2017

AMMAN — The Kingdom has stepped up its preparations for the West Asian Women’s Handball championship in Bahrain next month by heading to Cairo for an intensive training camp, according to the Jordan Olympic Committee News Service.

Jordan will also play some friendly matches against local Egyptian opposition before heading to Bahrain for the December 5-15 tournament.

The squad has been confirmed and will include Falak Obeidat, Sarah Halabieh, Ru’a Nasser, Ayah Obeidat, Fatine Al Hanaideh, Lubna Salameh, Nahed Al Rawashdeh, Rozana Alash, Raneem Abdulhadi, Lima Abidah, Haya Obeidat, Sundos Obeidat, Aysha Al Majali, Yasmeen Al Zawahreh, Hanadi Alsh, Sham Al Damen and Mira Kamodeh.

The team will be managed by Mohammad Abu Rumman, with head coach Adnan Bin Harith and coach Mwafaq Malkawi. Wala’ Sa’aifdeh is providing administrative support while the team physiotherapist is Shaker Al Sakran.

Celtics beat Mavericks in overtime

By - Nov 21,2017 - Last updated at Nov 21,2017

Boston Celtics forward Al Horford guards Dallas Mavericks forward Harrison Barnes during their NBA game in Dallas, Texas, on Monday (Reuters photo by Jerome Miron)

Kyrie Irving scored a season-high 47 points as the Boston Celtics ran their winning streak to 16 games with a 110-102 overtime win over the Dallas Mavericks on Monday.

Irving produced the fourth-highest scoring game of his career, as the Celtics (16-2) rallied from 13 points down in the final 7:47 of regulation. He shot 16-of-22, made five three-pointers and 10 free throws.

Jaylen Brown added 22 for Boston, which tied the fourth-longest win streak in team history. The Celtics can tied for the third longest when they go for 17 in a row Wednesday at Miami.

 

Cavaliers 116, Pistons 88

 

Kevin Love collected 19 points and 11 rebounds as Cleveland routed Detroit for its fifth straight win.

LeBron James added 18 points in 27 minutes as Cleveland led by as many as 39 and shot 52.5 per cent. Jae Crowder also scored 18 points for Cleveland.

Stanley Johnson scored 11 points for Detroit, but Andre Drummond finished with eight points and eight rebounds. Drummond failed to get at least 12 rebounds for the first time this season.

 

Knicks 107, Clippers 85

 

Kristaps Porzingis led six players in double figures as New York handed Los Angeles their ninth straight loss.

Reserve Doug McDermott added 16 points, Tim Hardaway Jr contributed 13 while Enes Kanter totaled 12 points and 16 rebounds.

Blake Griffin scored 21 points before fouling out as Los Angeles also dropped to 1-11 in their last 12 games.

 

76ers 107, Jazz 86

 

Rookie Ben Simmons posted his 11th double-double with 27 points and 10 rebounds as Philadelphia beat Utah.

Simmons made 13-of-24 shots as Philadelphia shot 51.8 per cent. JJ Reddick added 20 and Joel Embiid contributed 15 for the 76ers.

Rookie Donvan Mitchell led the Jazz with 17 points.

Pacers 105, Magic 97

 

Victor Oladipo scored 29 points as Indiana beat Orlando.

Bojan Bogdanovic added 26 points and Thaddeus Young contributed 17 as Indiana won their fourth straight.

Nikola Vucevic totaled 25 points and 13 rebounds as Orlando dropped their fifth straight.

 

Spurs 96, Hawks 85

 

LaMarcus Aldridge scored 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as San Antonio beat Atlanta.

Manu Ginobili added 16 points as San Antonio overcame 18 turnovers. Danny Green added 14 and Kyle Anderson posted a double-double with 13 and 10 rebounds.

 

Hornets 118, Timberwolves 102

 

Dwight Howard collected 25 points and 20 rebounds as Charlotte dominated the fourth quarter and beat Minnesota.

Frank Kaminsky added 24 points off the bench as Charlotte outscored Minnesota 34-22 in the fourth quarter. Nicolas Batum added 17 points and Jeremy Lamb contributed 16.

 

Trail Blazers 100, Grizzlies 92

 

CJ McCollum scored 24 points as Portland beat Memphis.

McCollum hit a key jumper with 35.3 seconds left and Damian Lillard added 21 as Portland won despite shooting 39.8 per cent.

 

Pelicans 114, 

Thunder 107

 

Anthony Davis scored 36 points in 44 and-a-half minutes as New Orleans rallied from a 19-point deficit to beat Oklahoma City.

Davis played the entire second half and helped New Orleans withstand the ejection of DeMarcus Cousins. He scored 18 points before getting tossed for elbowing Russell Westbrook in the third quarter.

Paul George led the Thunder with 26 points. Westbrook posted his fifth triple-double with 22 points, 16 rebounds and 12 assists.

 

Wizards 99, Bucks 88

 

Bradley Beal scored 23 points as Washington beat Milwaukee.

John Wall added 15 points and six assists as Washington shot 52.7 per cent.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 23 points and eight rebounds. Khris Middleton added 15 and Eric Bledsoe finished with 14.

 

Nuggets 114, Kings 98

 

Will Barton scored 25 points and made five three-pointers as Denver beat Sacramento.

Gary Harris added 20 points and Nikola Jokic posted a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds.

Dimitrov comes of age to win ATP Finals title

By - Nov 20,2017 - Last updated at Nov 20,2017

Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov holds the trophy as he celebrates winning his men’s singles final match against Belgium’s David Goffin at the ATP World Tour Finals tournament in London on Sunday (AFP photo by Glyn Kirk)

LONDON — Grigor Dimitrov claimed the biggest title of his career and sent out a huge statement of intent as the stylish Bulgarian beat David Goffin 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 to win the ATP Finals on Sunday.

The 26-year-old recovered from losing his opening two service games to finally get the better of the willowy Belgian player, but it was fiercely-fought two-and-a-half hour duel with Goffin saving four match points before finally succumbing.

Dimitrov’s unbeaten run this week in London earned him $2.5 million, while the 1,500 ranking points have catapulted him to end an impressive year ranked third in the world — behind only all-time greats Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

More significantly perhaps, landing the unofficial “fifth” Grand Slam appears to be proof that the former junior Wimbledon champion, once dubbed “Baby Federer” because of his easy-on-the-eye style, has finally come of age.

“It’s been an amazing week for me,” Dimitrov said on court after becoming the first player to win the elite eight-man tournament on his first appearance in the event since Spaniard Alex Corretja beat countryman Carlos Moya in 1998.

“It’s such an honour to be here and this week has been one of the best weeks I’ve ever had.”

He was still on court nearly an hour after the match ended, signing autographs for the sizeable Bulgarian contingent who had roared their man to victory.

Yet, it was tough on Goffin who, like Dimitrov, was his country’s first qualifier for the ATP Finals.

His substantial consolation, though, was to end the year at a career-high seventh, having become only the sixth man to beat Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in the same tournament.

He will need to recover fast from the two hour 30 minute final — the longest since the event adopted a three-set format — as a Davis Cup final looms in France next weekend.

Many of the capacity crowd in the O2 Arena had doubtless booked their tickets in anticipation of watching the top two seeds Federer and Nadal go head-to-head, but the two newcomers provided a fitting end to an extraordinary ATP season.

Goffin managed only two games against Dimitrov when they met on Wednesday in group play but recovered to beat Dominic Thiem to reach the semis where he stunned six-times champion Federer.

For Dimitrov, he was quickly a different proposition in the final, using his pinpoint accuracy to keep his gifted opponent under control and he was way ahead on the winner count as he moved 4-3 ahead.

A double-fault at 30-30 followed by a wayward forehand, though, gifted Dimitrov a break and seemed to energise the Bulgarian.

Dimitrov began to assert himself and piled on the pressure when Goffin served at 5-6. Goffin saved four set points, two with forehand winners, but double-faulted on a game point of his own before Dimitrov forced an error to wrap up the opener.

Goffin needed just one break of serve to take the match into a decider and looked the more likely winner for a while but when Dimitrov survived a 10-minute service game at the start of the third, saving four break points, it proved crucial.

With Goffin beginning to tire, Dimitrov moved 5-2 ahead with a break and then went 0-40 ahead on Goffin’s serve.

Somehow Goffin survived to extend the contest to another game and saved another match point on the Bulgarian’s serve.

 

He looked poised to save another one as he stretched Dimitrov all over the court, but with the court at his mercy he put an attempted drop-volley into the net.

Jordan’s Al Wir clinches Arab gold

By - Nov 20,2017 - Last updated at Nov 20,2017

AMMAN — Jordan’s Amro Al Wir has clinched gold in the 200m breaststroke at the Arab Swimming Age Group Championships taking place in Cairo, Egypt, according to the Jordan Olympic Committee News Service.

The youngster finished first in the 16-18 years category in a time of 2:19.61 minutes, a new Arab record, to complete a successful event for Team Jordan.

The Kingdom’s overall medal tally reached 10 when the relay team of Wasef Hattab, Zeiad Sal’ous, Aliya Shamyah and Amro Ammari won bronze in the 4x100 medley. Jordan’s haul included one gold, four silver and five bronze medals.

Mourinho delighted by ‘emotional’ Ibrahimovic return

By - Nov 19,2017 - Last updated at Nov 19,2017

Manchester United’s Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic runs with the ball during the English Premier League football match against Newcastle in Manchester, England, on Saturday (AFP photo by Oli Scarff)

MANCHESTER — Jose Mourinho admitted he felt emotional to see Zlatan Ibrahimovic return from his career-threatening knee ligament operation in Manchester United’s impressive 4-1 victory on Saturday over Newcastle United.

Paul Pogba, coming back from a 12-match lay-off of his own with a hamstring problem, started the game and played a pivotal role, laying on an equaliser for Anthony Martial and scoring United’s third.

But Ibrahimovic, who tore knee ligaments against Anderlecht in April and underwent career-saving surgery, drew the biggest cheer of the day when he appeared as a 77th-minute substitute.

“The second half was ours,” said Mourinho. “We had control, goals, beautiful actions and still time for a very emotional scene for all of us, who stayed close to such a professional with one of the biggest injuries in football.

“And so him coming back was a joy for everyone but for us close to him it was more than that, it was a big emotion to see the big guy back.”

Pogba was sorely missed during his two-month absence, not least by striker Romelu Lukaku who ended a run of seven games without a goal by adding the fourth for United against Newcastle.

And although he would not talk about Pogba during his injury, Mourinho was forthright about the French international’s value to United, although he now has to make a decision whether or not to select him for Wednesday’s Champions League group game with Basel.

“He was top,” said the United manager. “It looked like he was not out, he came back with a great performance, really great performance, he had great influence in the game.

“I agreed with him he had to make the decision of coming out at the first sign of fatigue because we don’t want to go over the limit so he played a little bit more than an hour.

“He affects our football. When he was injured I decided to close my mouth, we cannot be crying, we have to find solutions that we have but we all know — myself, and the fellow players — that some players influence the level of the team.

“So with him we had much more creation, we have a second way out from the first phase and I’m so happy. Let’s see the best decision for Wednesday.”

 

Lukaku ends drought

 

Pogba celebrated wildly, on his way down the tunnel, when Lukaku scored the fourth goal after 70 minutes and Mourinho was equally pleased to see the Belgian return to goalscoring ways.

“Strikers like to score goals,” he said. “It’s not a problem for me if he works like he always does and doesn’t score, but for their self esteem and self confidence they want to score goals.

“And he wasn’t doing that for a few matches and I know that can affect striker’s confidence, so I was really happy that he scored that goal.”

After the teams had traded goals, Chris Smalling headed United into a 2-1 lead in first-half injury-time, although Newcastle were close to snatching an equaliser before the break when an Isaac Hayden shot was well saved, and Matt Ritchie’s follow-up shot was almost deflected in by Dwight Gayle, who had scored the opener.

“I’m really pleased and proud of my players for that opening 30 minutes,” Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez said. “But when you pay big money for players, they can make the difference.

 

“If we had scored a second it might have been different but, even if we had scored a second, you can’t think a game with Man United is finished with the level of their players. You know it is going to be 90 minutes of suffering but it’s a pity because we had chances.”

Jordan’s Shergo wins Arab Golf Championships

By - Nov 19,2017 - Last updated at Nov 19,2017

AMMAN — Rising golf star Shergo Kurdi has won the U-18 Arab Golf Championships in Tunisia, despite still only being 14 years old, according to the Jordan Olympic Committee News Service.

The Jordanian youngster finished 10-over for the three rounds, winning by three shots from local player Mahdi Bin Halemeh.

It’s the latest in the long list of tournament wins for Shergo who also won the Arab Boys title last year.

The event welcomed players from 10 countries including the UAE, Lebanon, Bahrain, Egypt, Qatar, Oman, Somalia, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

Jordan strike double taekwondo gold in Greece

By - Nov 19,2017 - Last updated at Nov 19,2017

AMMAN — Jordan has won two gold medals at the Greece Taekwondo Open taking place in Athens, according to the Jordan Olympic Committee News Service.

Salah Al Sharabati won the -80kg category following a tremendous win over Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 Olympic medallist Steven Lopez, 10-8.

A second gold followed for Anas Adarbeh who met the Jordan Olympic gold medallist Ahmad Abu Ghaush in the final of the -74kg weight.

However, Abu Ghaush decided to step aside in the final to allow his countryman the chance to clinch vital world ranking points, but it did mean a Jordan 1-2 on the podium.

Youngster Zeid Mustafa added a silver in the -55kg after losing the final to a Greek fighter having earlier won four fights to reach the gold medal match.

In the women’s, Juliana Al Sadeq also won a silver medal after losing the final to USA’s Paige McPherson, 10-5. It has proved to be a hugely successful tournament for Jordan with earlier medals also won by Bana Daraghmeh (silver) in the -49kg and Lu’ai Nazzal (bronze) in the -48kg, making it seven won in total so far.

HRH Prince Rashed Al Hassan, president of the Jordan Taekwondo Federation, praised the achievements of the players and congratulated them for their level of competition. But we are not done yet. On the final day, Aysha Al Saddeh will compete in the +63kg, Hamzeh Qattan will fight in the +87kg and Natalie Al Humaidi goes for glory in the -63kg.

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