Sports

AMMAN — Jordan’s Olympic triathlete Lawrence Fanous said he will bounce back from a nasty crash that took him out of the weekend’s ITU World Triathlon Abu Dhabi event, according to the Jordan Olympic Committee News Service.

Lawrence was well positioned during the bike section of the race before taking a tumble on a tight corner.

His damaged knee meant that he was unable to continue the race but after a check-up back in Jordan, he has assured his followers that he will be back training soon.

“The knee is still like a balloon and some bad road rash, but I was lucky that nothing got broken,” he said. “It could have been a lot worse. “I’ve learned a few things from this that I’ll take forward to my next races.

This is sport and that’s all you can do in these situations — learn and move on. Onwards and upwards.” Lawrence made history in 2016 when he became the first Jordanian triathlete to compete in an Olympic Games.

AMMAN — Jordan’s Rugby 7s side can take a lot of encouragement from their first venture on to the Asian 7s circuit following some promising displays in Qatar over the weekend, according to the Jordan Olympic Committee News Service.

The side took their place alongside 11 of the top second tier sides on the continent for a two-day tournament that provided plenty of experience for the emerging Jordanians.

It could not have been tougher for Jordan on Day One after being grouped with tournament top seeds Singapore and the promising Pakistan side. But despite two narrow defeats – 24-15 and 24-19 respectively – on Day Two they showed their fighting spirit to beat both Nepal and Bangladesh to win the consolation Bowl competition.

The tournament was won overall by The Philippines Volcanoes who trounced Thailand 41-7 in the final to book their place in the top flight Asian Rugby 7s Series.

AMMAN — Jordan Cup title-holders Ahli host Iraq’s Zawra on Monday while Jordan Professional League champs Wihdat play an away match against Bahrain’s Muharraq on Tuesday in stage 2 of the 14th Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup.

With clubs from five Asian Zones competing in eight groups, and the top two from each group moving to the Round of 16, clubs aim to secure all the points they can early on.

Wihdat will seek to build on their opening 1-0 win over Lebanon’s Nijmeh. They are now second in Group C which is led by Oman’s Saham who beat Muharraq 3-2.

Ahli, who are representing Jordan in the AFC Cup for the first time, need to make up for their opening 1-0 defeat to Syria’s Jeish in Group A. They are in last spot in the group which is led by Jeish after Oman’s Suweiq were held 0-0 by Zawra.

Both clubs have local and regional aims. The local season opened with Ahli making history when they beat reigning league champs Wihdat 2-1 to win the 34th Super Cup — the first major competition on the 2016/17 football calendar. However, Ahli have been struggling in the league and were eliminated from the Jordan Cup. They are fresh out of a 3-1 win over Faisali and are looking to score another victory on Monday. 

Wihdat reached the Jordan Cup semis and are now second in the league. They have been league champs for the past three seasons and won the title for the 15th time last year since moving up to the league in 1975.

This season, Wihdat regional ambitions of competing among top tier teams were dashed early when they were eliminated from the preliminary round of the 2017 AFC Asian Champions League. They beat AFC Cup runners-up India’s Bengaluru FC 2-1 in the preliminary round, but lost 3-0 to UAE’s Wihda in the play-off thus failing to advance to Round 1 of the prestigious Asian competition. They thus moved to the continent’s second-tier club event — the AFC Cup. Had Wihdat advanced in the ACL, Jazira would have joined Ahli in the AFC Cup.

Jordanian teams have never before made it past the ACL preliminary round. Wihdat were knocked out in 2016 and 2015, while Shabab Urdun were eliminated in 2014.

It is Wihdat’s 10th time in the AFC Cup, and alongside aspirations for the professional league title, the Jordanian league title-holders hope to win the record $1 million prize money set for the winner. The event was previously won three times by Jordanian teams: Faisali won titles in 2005 and 2006, and Shabab Urdun won in 2007.

DEAD SEA — Fares Nafash on Friday was crowned champion of the first round of the 4x4 Jordan Championship, held with the participation of 47 drivers in an event that attracted more than 6000 fans of the challenging 4x4 auto event.

Nafash and co-driver Omar Sharkasi in their Jeep Cherokee ended the harsh and challenging track with 2m57s, followed by Hassan Najjar and co-driver Malek Najjar in their Jeep clocked 3m05s in the second place, while Ahmad Khattab and co-driver Mohammed Zou’bi in their Jeep Cherokee clocked 3m 06s in the third place.

According to Othman Nassef, Jordan Motorsport CEO the event proved to be a challenge and popular event which will attract more fans to this season’s calendar.

“We are happy that the event was able to attract such a huge number of fans who cheered their favourite driver especially against the muddy tip and the challenging rocky hill which stopped the best drivers from moving due to its natural obstacle that needed special cars,” Nassef said. 

 “It was a great idea to include such an event in the 2017 calendar and with 46 drivers from Jordan, Palestine and Saudi Arabia taking part we believe that the next round will even be bigger,” he added.

Drivers faced a 1km track filled with various rocky, sandy and clay obstacles and terrain using their off road and modified vehicles against time in accordance to FIA regulations.

AMMAN — The first round of the 4x4 Jordan Championship kicks off on Friday with the participation of 46 drivers from Jordan, Palestine and Saudi Arabia at the shores of the Dead Sea, Parking B area.

The first event which was included in the season 2017 calendar carries the title “Muddy Friday” and will be held for two days.

“This will be the first time we organise such a championship. Drivers will face a 1 km track and a host of obstacles that will test the skill of both the driver and machine,” Othman Naseef, Jordan Motorsport CEO, told The Jordan Times.

“The round will consist of one heat where drivers will try to overcome rocky, sandy and clay obstacles and terrain using their off road and modified vehicles against time in accordance of FIA regulations,” he added.

According to Naseef, the championship aims to adopt the skills of youth, guide them and give them the opportunity to show their talent.

“There are a lot of fans of such events in Jordan and this is their chance to show their talent to many people who are expected to come and watch it,” he said. 

Only one driver from Saudi Arabia will take part.

“We have Majed Al Shamari and co-driver Jafar Kilani and 14 from Palestine meanwhile the rest are from Jordan,” Naseef said.

AMMAN — Jordan’s golf prodigy Shergo Kurdi has confirmed that he will compete at the Jordan Golf Open later this month, launching what promises to be a busy year of competition for the 13-year-old, according to the Jordan Olympic Committee  (JOC) News Service.

The event takes place at the par-72 Greg Norman-designed Ayla course in Aqaba, with organisers promising one the strongest fields in its 27-year history.

And Kurdi has thrown his hat into the ring early to be installed as one of the favourites to pressure three-time reigning champion Amer Radee from March 23-25.

“The Jordan Golf Open will be the start of a busy year of competition,” said Kurdi, who is based in England. “I have not had too much time on the course this winter due to the weather, but have worked hard on my technique and have trained hard on my physical development as well as with physiotherapists and osteopaths so that I am stronger and fitter for the 2017 season.”

Kurdi came of age in the adult game late last year when he made the cut at the King Hamad Trophy in Bahrain, showing that he can compete with the professionals as well as the amateurs.

It has encouraged him to join the Middle East and North Africa Tour which gets underway in Morocco the week prior to the Jordan Golf Open.

“I am really looking forward to competing at the Jordan Open which is my home event,” he said. “The Ayla Course is beautiful and will provide a good test for us all. Amer [Radee] has won the event for the past three years so it will be a tough competition as well. Just what I need this early in the year.”

Beyond the Jordan Open, Kurdi will participate in a number of events on both the European and Asia Pacific tours as well as taking part in national, county and local competitions.

“We are still finalising his complete schedule for the year,” said his father, Musa. “But for sure it will be a busy schedule with a good selection of county, national and international level events. His aim is also to gain World Amateur Ranking points this year and we are trying to focus on building a good foundation in preparation for the Olympics in the near future.”

The Jordan Golf Open is being organised by the Jordan Golf Federation with the gross event to be held over three days and the net event to be held on the final two days as a stableford.

AMMAN — Competition has heated up at both ends of the standings in the Jordan Professional Football League as Week 15 kicks off on Thursday.

Jazira’s lead has been slashed to one point after they were held 1-1 with Wihdat. This week, they have a chance to boost their standing when they play Sarih who are 11th after losing 2-0 to Sahab. Wihdat are second and will next play Ramtha in an important match, as the top three are trailing by a point each.

Ramtha are 6th after they beat Shabab Urdun 1-0. The latter dropped to 7th and next play Manshieh, who are fourth after losing 2-0 to Faisali.

Jordan Cup titleholders Ahli, who lost 2-1 to That Ras, dropped to 8th and next play Faisali. The team seems to have lost momentum after they were eliminated from the Jordan Cup and lost in the opener of the Asian Football Confederation Cup.

Hussein are fifth after a 2-1 win over Baqa’a and next play Sahab who are now 9th. Baqa’a, who are reeling in last spot and close to relegation, play That Ras in a vital match in the bottom half of the standings.

Manshieh who joined the Jordan Professional Football League this season with Sahab have asserted themselves among the leading teams, while former Jordan Cup champ That Ras are going through financial strains and are now in the relegation zone together with Baqa’a who are usually among the upper half of standings. Jazira’s Syrian pro Mardig Mardigian maintained his scoring prowess and leads the top scorers list with 11 goals.

Wihdat exited the Asian Champions League, but beat Lebanon’s Nijmeh 1-0 in the AFC Cup opener. They are looking to win their fourth consecutive and 16th overall title, while Faisali have not won the league in the past four years eyeing their 33rd record title.

In the Jordan Cup, four teams had made it to the semis in which Wihdat will face Faisali while Ramtha play Jazira on May 12 and 16 before playing the final on May 20.

AMMAN — Riyadi-Aramex have done it. They won the Jordan Basketball League for the second consecutive year after a closely contested season.

Riyadi beat Orthodoxi 68-55 on Tuesday evening ending Awdeh’s ambitions of attempting to win the title for the first time. Awdeh’s beat Kufr Youba 83-82 to settle for second place, leaving Orthdoxi third.

Riyadi had scored a vital 67-61 win over Orthodoxi in Leg 1 of the final round and beat Awdeh 78-69. Last year’s fourth-placed Awdeh were boosted by the signing of Mahmoud Abdeen midway through the final stage of the competition and beat Orthodoxi twice in the final round, and managed a 75-74 win over Riyadi to boost their competition chances.

With no import players this year and a shortened format with no best-of-five play-offs for the  title, Orthodoxi lead the preliminary round of the competition, beating holders Riyadi as the top four were decided while the bottom four battled it out with Jalil, Anjara,  Hurrieh and  Deir Abi Saied contesting the relegation play-offs.

AMMAN – It is down to the final day of the Basketball League to decide this year’s champion. Riyadi need to beat Orthodoxi on Tuesday to win the title, otherwise Awdeh will be crowned champions for the first time.

Titleholders Riyadi lead the league’s Leg 2 after they beat Kufr Youba 69-58 in their latest match while Awdeh made sure Orthodoxi’s ambitions were halted after they repeated their win 74-64.

Riyadi could have sealed the title race earlier but lost 75-74 to Awdeh earlier this week.

In Leg 1 of the final round, Riyadi scored a vital 67-61 win over Orthodoxi and earlier beat Awdeh 78-69. After leading the preliminary round of the competition, it was Orthodoxi’s second consecutive defeat after they lost 72-62 to Awdeh. 

In the first round of the competition, Riyadi only lost to Orthodoxi as the top four were decided, while the bottom four battled it out with Jalil, Anjara, Hurrieh and Deir Abi Saied contesting the relegation play-offs. 

Last year’s fourth-placed Awdeh were boosted by the signing of Mahmoud Abdeen midway through the current stage of the competition which had no import players this year and a shortened format wit no best-of-five play-offs for the title.

In the 2015-2016 season, Riyadi-Aramex were crowned league champs — a title which had eluded them for 20 years — when they beat titleholders Orthodoxi to win the best-of -seven play-offs 4-0. Riyadi-Aramex had last won the league in 1997 by then Jazira-Aramex team (whose players later on formed Riyadi’s line-up). Hurrieh were third last year sealing the best-of-five play-offs 3-2 against Awdeh with teams like former league and cup champs Applied Science University, Ittihad, and Wihdat pulling out of the competition over differences with the Jordan Basketball Federation and players dispersed over the rest of clubs.

Orthodoxi, who won their record 23rd league title in the 2014-15 season, last year won the Jordan Cup.

The Basketball League which started in 1952 has had 58 editions with eight teams crowned champion. It was cancelled in three seasons and discontinued once. Orthodoxi have won 23 times, Ahli 21, Zain (Fastlink) six times, ASU four times, Jazira-Aramex twice, while Riyadi, Urdun, Watany and the Electricity Co. won once each.

BANGKOK — Amy Yang sank a short birdie putt on the 72nd hole to seal a five-stroke victory at the Honda LPGA in Thailand on Sunday, the Korean claiming the title for a second time with a new tournament record.

The 2015 champion closed with a four-under 68 at the Siam Country Club in Chonburi to finish with a 22-under-par total of 266, one shot lower than the previous record and well clear of nearest rival, fellow Korean Ryu So-yeon (68).

Compatriot Kim Sei-young finished a further two strokes back in third place, while Americans Lexi Thompson and Danielle Kang shared fourth place alongside another Korean, Chun In-gee, on 13-under-par at the rain-hit event.

Frustrating weather delays during the first three rounds left the players either battling boredom or needing to play almost 36 holes in a day, but Yang stayed focused throughout to claim a third LPGA title after leading for all four days.

“I’m beyond happy,” Yang said in a greenside interview. 

“It wasn’t easy with all the rain delays, 4am wake-up calls two days in a row, but I stayed patient out there and did my best and I am delighted to have won the tournament.”

Starting her final round with a five-shot cushion, Yang always appeared in control of her destiny but when Ryu threatened to cut her lead to just two strokes on the back-nine, the 27-year-old produced a pair of title-winning shots.

Yang made a complete mess of her chip from beside the green on the par-four 14th, but breathed a huge sigh of relief when she drained a difficult 20-foot downhill putt to match Ryu’s par and keep her advantage at a manageable three shots.

“The chip wasn’t easy from the bottom [of the slope] and I had a poor bounce but I knew I had to make the putt and fortunately I did,” added Yang, who only recorded two bogeys all week.

Still pumped by the adrenaline of her clutch par-save, Yang sent a booming drive into the centre of the green on the short par-four 15th and was able to extend her lead by another shot with a tap-in birdie as Ryu’s challenge faded with a par.

“I love this place, I love the people here and I always seem to play well,” Yang said. “It’s a great start to the year and I am really looking forward to the rest of the season.”