Jordan set for Youth Games

AMMAN — Jordan is making the final preparations to its six-member team that will compete in the second Youth Olympic Games taking place in Nanjing, China, from August 16-28, according to a statement from the Jordan Olympic Committee (JOC). The six athletes will be competing across four sports — taekwondo, swimming, fencing and gymnastics — with the youngsters expected to gain invaluable experience at such an early time in their international sporting careers. “It’s a part of our strategy at the Jordan Olympic Committee to participate in all these major multi-sport events, Lana Al Jaghbeer, JOC secretary general, was quoted as saying in the statement. “The Youth Olympic Games in particular provide an opportunity for some of our most promising athletes to compete on the international stage. Hopefully one day we will see them compete at the main Olympic Games and I wish them well in their careers.” In taekwondo, Eman Al Adayleh and Taimaa Habwal will represent the Kingdom, while  Khader Baqleh and Lydia Musleh compete in the pool. Gymnast Yazan Abandeh and fencer Balqees Al Qudah make up Team Jordan which leaves Amman on August 11. The chief of mission of the delegation is three-time Olympian and JOC board member Nadine Dewani. Jordan did well in taekwondo at the first Youth Olympics in Singapore where Dana Haidar took silver and Yazan Al Sadeq took bronze. All of the athletes start their competition in Nanjing on August 17.