Jordan warriors prepare for medal bid

AMMAN — Jordan’s final chance for glory at the 4th Asian Beach Games will get under way in Phuket, Thailand, on Thursday with two ambitious Muay Thai fighters confident of making the Kingdom proud, according to a statement from the Jordan Olympic Committee.

Mohammed Al Barri will represent Jordan in the 81kg category while Mohammad Salameh competes in the 75kg, with both fighters believing of making an impression in the home of the sport.

“My ambition is to one day become a world champion in this sport,” 22-year-old Barri, who is a soldier from Irbid and started his sporting career as a boxer, was quoted as saying in the statement.

“Boxing was my passion but then Muay Thai coach Khald Al Zaqzouq encouraged me to switch sports and I have not looked back! I am determined to do well here in the Beach Games to show that I am capable of becoming one of the world’s best.”

Salameh, 25, from Karak, mixes brains with brawn by splitting his time between studying accountancy in university and training for Muay Thai. He also gives a lot back to the sport by training the next generation of fighters.

“I started this sport way back when I was 12 so I have experienced how it can help a young man develop,” he said. “I would love to become a professional Muay Thai fighter one day but for the moment I must put in a strong performance here. I told my coach that I would only come here to win a medal for Jordan and I am focused 100 per cent on this,” Salameh said in the statement.