Abu Ghaush leads Jordanian team to Croatia

AMMAN — Olympic champion Ahmad Abu Ghaush leads a strong Jordanian team to compete at the 23rd Croatia Taekwondo Open – G1 being held in Zagreb this weekend, according to the Jordan Olympic Committee News Service. Abu Ghaush will be back in action for the first time since his sensational World Grand Prix win in London last month, and will be part of a team of six fighters in the senior event and six fighters in the U-17 category. The event is part of a double header for the team who will then move on to Greece for an another championship the following weekend. Both events provide crucial qualifying points for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Youth Olympics next year in Buenos Aires. Head coach, Faris Al Assaf, pointed out the importance of participating. “Both of these tournaments are rated as G1 championships with ranking points, so it’s very important to participate,” said Assaf. “We are also sending an U-17 team to try and qualify for next year’s Youth Olympic Games so these are very exciting times for our fighters.” The senior team is made up of Ahmad Abu Ghaush (-68kg), Ruslan Lebzo (-58kg), Anas Adarbeh (-84kg), Saleh Al Sharbati (-80kg), Bana Daraghmeh (-49kg) and Juliana Al Sadeq (-67kg). The U-17 team are Lu’ai Nazal (-48kg), Zeid Mustafa (-55kg), Mustafa Allahham (-63kg), Rama Abu Al Rub (-55kg), Natali Al Humaidi (-63kg) and Ayshah Al Sadda (+63kg). Wael Abu Rahemm is travelling as chef de mission with Nabeel Talal and Laith Ezzat supporting Assaf in the coaching set-up. Farah Al Asad is providing administrative back-up.