Heartbreak for Jordan at Youth Games

AMMAN — Jordan’s Taima Habowal suffered a heartbreaking defeat on Wednesday at the Youth Olympic Games after losing to China’s Yang Chen in the taekwondo 63kg category in Nanjing, China, according to a statement from the Jordan Olympic Committee. With the match very tight in the last round, Jordan felt Habowal had struck the head of Chen with a kick which would have brought her level at a crucial time, but the referee didn’t spot it and Chen went on to win 5-2. Her coach Khader Khalifeh was not happy with the decision saying: “It was a shame to lose because it was very clear that it should have counted. Taima is still only 15 so she will learn from this experience and move on. She still has another year in the juniors before stepping up,” in the statement. Meanwhile, swimmer Lydia Musleh finished sixth in her 200m freestyle heat, going out of the competition, but she will now enter the 50m freestyle on Thursday. Khader Baqlah also will return to the pool for the 100m freestyle heats on Thursday.