Sports

SHANGHAI — Neymar greeted fans in Shanghai today as speculation mounted that the Brazil star could be set to quit Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain for a world-record 222 million euros.

The 25-year-old striker is at the centre of an apparent tug of war between the two European giants in what would be the most expensive transfer fee in football history.

A training spat with new Barcelona signing Nelson Semedo during a pre-season tour in Miami ramped up chatter that Neymar could be about to swap Spain for the French capital.

Neymar, who has remained tight-lipped about the transfer rumours, posted a message for Chinese fans on Weibo, China’s equivalent of Twitter, after arriving for a promotional visit.

“Ni Hao China! I’m Neymar Jr. and I’ve just arrived in China,” he wrote today.

“I’m in Shanghai at the moment. I would like to send a huge hug to all my Chinese fans, thank you very much for your support.”

He posted messages in English and Chinese and asked for suggestions as to what he should do while in Shanghai, where he was scheduled to appear at an event for a fashion brand later today.

Separately, China’s biggest online travel company Ctrip had said it was cancelling an event with Neymar today in Shanghai because he and his advisers were “busy with transfer issues”.

People close to the player subsequently told media there had never been an arrangement with the firm.

Even after the training-ground bust-up in the United States, after which Neymar appeared to storm off, his Barcelona teammates said they wanted him to stay at the Camp Nou.

“Neymar and I, we are very close and I want him to stay and I know the situation,” defender Gerard Pique told ESPN FC.

“Right now he doesn’t know what to do and we are trying to help him—the ones [on the team] that are more close to him — to take the right decision.”

PSG’s pursuit of Neymar has angered some in Spain, where football league chief Javier Tebas says he will file a complaint with Uefa for financial fair play breaches by the French club. — 

Spain’s football league chief Javier Tebas said he will file a complaint with Uefa for financial fair play breaches against Paris Saint-Germain over their pursuit of Brazilian superstar Neymar.

PSG are rumoured to be weighing up a bid for the Barcelona forward at more than 200 million euros, enough to trigger the 25-year-old’s transfer release clause.

“La Liga will file this complaint because it’s a problem for La Liga’s competitiveness. Today it’s happened to Barca, tomorrow it could happen to Real Madrid, it’s happened to Atletico Madrid,” Tebas, the La Liga chairman, told Mundo Deportivo.

Should PSG bid, and then pay, the 222 million euros needed to prise Neymar from the Catalan capital, they would struggle to meet Uefa’s financial fair play conditions that limit a team to losses of no more than 30 million euros over a three-year cycle.

And that is despite a mega-money sponsorship deal with the Qatar tourism board.

According to Tebas, “no-one believes” the commercial revenue figures presented by PSG to justify their spending.

“PSG cannot have figures in which PSG’s commercial rights exceed those of Real Madrid and Barcelona,” said Tebas.

“No-one believes that. We’ve carried out economic studies and it’s impossible.

“It means that the Qatari state is injecting money and that violates Uefa’s financial fair play rules and the European Union’s norms of economic competition, and we’re going to file a complaint.”

In 2014, PSG were fined 60 million euros and handed transfer spending restrictions by Uefa for breaching financial fair play rules.

Uefa’s Club Financial Control Body has also stated that PSG’s 200 million euros a year image rights contract with the Qatari tourist board is inflated and double its “true value”.

PSG are owned by Oryx Qatar Sports Investments.

AMMAN — The gap between Jordan and the fastest swimmers in the world has narrowed once again at the 17th FINA World Championships held in Hungary, according to the Jordan Olympic Committee News Service. National records tumbled as a number of swimmers set new personal bests to further highlight the tremendous progress being made by the Kingdom’s swimmers. Among the many highlights, Mohammad Bedour, Amro Al Wir and Dara Al Bakri all recorded B qualification times for the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) that will be held Buenos Aires, Argentina next year.

Bedour clock the B times for the 50m and 100m freestyle events with swims of 24.15 and 52.68 seconds respectively.

His teammate Wir stepped nearer to South America with a time of 2:23.09 for the 200m breaststroke, while Bakri’s new 27.23 record in the women’s 50m was another undoubted highlight. Head coach Ali Al Nawaiseh praised the swimmers and said the result were from years of hard work. “The World Championships gave our swimmers the experience and level of competition they need to move on,” he said.

“They are still young, but they showed great maturity in Hungary and we can only expect these times to get even better.” Although only 18, the relative ‘veteran’ and Olympian Khader Baqlah broke the Jordan record in the 200m and 400m freestyle events, with his 1:47.68 time in the 400m faster than the time required to qualify for last year’s Rio Olympic Games. Not to be outdone, his sister Talita was in super form in becoming the first Jordanian woman to break a minute in the 100m freestyle. The two-time Olympian also set a new national record in the 50m butterfly.

AMMAN — Lama Qubbaj is the toast of Jordan after clinching a silver medal on Saturday at the World Games taking place in Poland, according to the Jordan Olympic Committee News Service.

The Games feature sports and disciplines not included on the Olympic programme, which gave the ju-jitsu star a chance to shine on the global stage. And she didn’t disappoint, surging her way to the Open Weight final with a semifinal victory over the host nation’s Emilia Mckweik.

But she could not quite secure gold in a tight final against Amal Amjahid of Belgium. Qubbaj’s medal made it a successful end to competition for Jordan who sent five athletes to compete in ju-jitsu, muaythai and kickboxing.

AMMAN — Khatsheek Shadian on Friday was crowned champion of the Rumman Hill Climb for the third time in a row with the participation of 19 drivers from Oman, the UAE, Palestine and Jordan.

Although Shadian was able to win the hill, he could not break the 1m48.76s record registered by Lebanon Roger Feghali in 2017.

Shadian clocked 1m49.75s in his Formula 3, followed by Ayman Najjar (1m50.890s) in his Mitsubishi EVO Proto Type and veteran driver Husam Salem settled in third spot (1m51.790s) in his Mitsubishi EVO Proto Type. 

Mohammed Tayseer came fourth (1m53.090s) in his Mitsubishi EVO 6 and Wael Mustafa in fifth place (1m55.570s) in his Subaru Impreza RX. Ghaith Wraikat came sixth (1m55.910s) and Omani Mazen Sheebani came in seventh place (1m 59.510s).

Shadian won the hill in 2015 after clocking 1m52s in his Cosworth F3 and in 2016 with 1m 50.375s.

AMMAN — After the national U-23 team qualified to the 3rd Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Championship in 2018, officials hope the U-19 and U-16 teams will fare well in their respective qualifiers.

In Group E qualifiers, Jordan lost to hosts Palestine 3-2, beat Tajikistan 2-0 and Bangladesh 7-0 to finish second in the group. Palestine topped the group and moved with Jordan from Group E.

Forty teams played in 10 groups with the top team from each group, in addition to the top five second place teams moving to the U-23 Championship finals. Oman moved from Group A, Iraq and Saudi from Group B, Qatar and Syria from Group C, Uzbekistan from Group D, Australia form Group F, North Korea from Group G, Malaysia and Thailand from Group H, South Korea and Vietnam from Group I and China and Japan from Group J.

In 2016, Jordan was eliminated from the quarter-finals of the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship and failed to make it to the top four and a possible Olympic slot as the continent’s top three advanced to the Rio Games football tournament. In the inaugural AFC U-22 Championship in 2014, Jordan took third place when they beat South Korea while Iraq won the title after defeating Saudi Arabia.

Jordan’s U-23 squad was eliminated from the 1st West Asian U-23 Championship in 2015, and in 2014 the line-up represented Jordan at the Asian Games where they made to the quarter-finals.

The Kingdom’s younger squads are also training for their respective Asian qualifiers. The U-19 men’s team played Egypt twice losing 1-0 and drawing 0-0 after they played Iraq drawing 3-3 after winning 1-0.

Jordan is set to play in Group E alongside Syria, Palestine and hosts Iran in the qualifiers, and hope to advance after they were eliminated from the qualifying rounds of the 2016 Championship.

Jordan previously qualified to the Asian Championship four times and reached the FIFA Youth World Cup in Canada in 2007. Jordan finished fourth in 2006, but exited the group stages in 2008 and 2010 and reached the quarters in 2012. Jordan failed to qualify to the 2014 Championship.

Similarly, the U-16 team is now preparing for their Asian qualifiers where they will play in Group A alongside host Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Bahrain and Sri Lanka. In 2015, the U-16 squad failed to advance to the 2016 AFC U-16 Asian Championship.

BUDAPEST — Chase Kalisz continued America’s dominance of the men’s 200 metres individual medley as the United States enjoyed a memorable evening at the World Championships on Thursday.

Kalisz’s win set the tone before rising U.S. star Caeleb Dressel snatched victory in the men’s 100 metres freestyle and the American quartet powered to gold in the women’s 4x200 freestyle relay.

Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte had dominated the 200m medley event since 2003 and the only American in the field delivered again as Kalisz posted one minute 55.56 seconds at the Duna Arena.

The 23-year-old produced a Phelps-like roar of celebration and double-arm splash to celebrate his gold medal.

Kalisz said that the enormity of his task had weighed on his mind for months.

“Michael and Ryan have been the centrepieces of that tradition for over 15 years now and for me [the prospect of getting] silver and stopping that streak, it took a toll on me,” he told reporters.

Japanese Kosuke Hagino, the 2013 silver medallist, had cut loose on the backstroke before Kalisz took control on a swift breaststroke leg and freestyle finale.

Hagino touched for silver 0.05 seconds back.

“I would’ve definitely laughed at you months ago if you had told me this was going to be my first title,” Kalisz added. “I was over three seconds slower.”

There was a similar outcome in the 100m freestyle when Dressel took off his goggles and hit the water in euphoric style after taking gold in an American record time.

Dressel, 20, dominated the blue riband event from start to finish, clocking a highly impressive 47.17 seconds. Nathan Adrian secured an American one-two and Mehdy Metella of France took bronze.

“It’s nice to go one-two with Nathan, there is nothing like that, Americans on top,” an ecstatic Dressel said. “I just want to do my best every time I enter the water with the flag on my cap.”

A further smile stretched across Dressel’s face on hearing that his gold represented America’s first in the 100m since Anthony Ervin’s two-lap win in 2001.

China’s bid to win a hat-trick of world titles in the women’s 50m backstroke was scuppered by a jubilant Etiene Medeiros of Brazil.

Medeiros posted a time of 27.14 seconds as she held off defending champion Fu Yuanhui of China by 0.01 seconds in a fingertip finish. Aliaksandra Herasimenia of Belarus secured bronze.

Local favourite Katinka Hosszu of Hungary had briefly lifted the arena noise to deafening heights in the women’s 200m butterfly final.

Hosszu, 28, set the pace in the opening stages of a race won defiantly by Mireia Belmonte of Spain in two minutes 05.26 seconds. Franziska Hentke took silver with Hosszu landing bronze.

Katie Ledecky then put the disappointment of losing an individual final for the first time at a world championships behind her by anchoring the US to 4x200m relay gold.

Leah Smith, Mallory Comerford and Melanie Margalis had gone stroke for stroke with China before Ledecky powered away on the final leg. Their time of seven minutes 43.39 seconds was just outside the world record.

China finished 1.17 seconds back and Australia took bronze.

“I have no frustrations about yesterday any more,” beamed Ledecky following her 200m freestyle defeat.

AMMAN — Al Hussein Rumman Hill Climb kicks off on Friday with the participation of 19 drivers from Oman, the UAE, Palestine and Jordan.

The event organised by Jordan Motorsport will witness serious attempts to break the 1m48.76s record registered by Lebanon’s Roger Feghali in 2007.

The absence of the Lebanese champions will give a boost to the Jordanian drivers.

Jordan’s Khatsheek Shadian, who won the hill in 2015 after clocking 1m52s in his Cosworth F3 and in 2016 with 1m50.375s, is looking for a third time win and an opportunity to break Feghali’s record.

Mohammed Tayseer is another candidate who could break the record, as last year he came second with 1m54:943s, followed by Saher Fatafteh 1m55:352s.

Veteran driver and winner of the hill in 2012 Husam Salem will be waiting for chance to repeat his victory over the hill.

Ayman Najjar will also have a good shot at the record armed with his Speed Test experience. Ehab Shurafa and Wael Mustafa could surprise with a win.

Othman Naseef Jordan Motorsport CEO said that the event will be a huge opportunity.

“There is no doubt that the door of breaking records is open and everyone will have a chance to break it,” he told The Jordan Times.

“The hill is not easy and over the years so many tried but did not succeed but maybe this year we will have a Jordanian who will break the record and return the hill to its people,” he added.

Salem, who has a long experience in the Speed Tests and Rumman Hill events, said that there is a big chance to break the record.

“We all have a good chance but in such events anything can happen and our plans might not work at all but we will do our best to win the hill,” Salem, who will be driving his Mitsubishi EVO Pro Type, said.

The Hill Climb course is exactly tree kilometres in length and three metres in width with an average rise of 8.5 per cent. There are a total of 27 bends and corners including four hairpin bends. The course is situated two kilometres north of Rumman.

The event started as a competition among friends. His Majesty King Hussein patronised the opening of the Royal Automobile Club of Jordan in 1953 and took part in the first ever Rumman Hill Climb in 1956.

SINGAPORE — Bayern Munich playmaker Thomas Mueller scored two sublime goals, as they capitalised on a fast start to edge Chelsea 3-2 in the opening match of the International Champions Cup Singapore friendly tournament on Tuesday.

Bayern manager Carlo Ancelotti had implored his side to show improvement following a 4-0 drubbing by AC Milan in Shenzhen last week, and his players answered the call with a scintillating opening spell as they raced to a 3-0 lead in 26 minutes. 

Chelsea, who gave a debut to their new Spanish striker Alvaro Morata, adopted the 3-4-3 formation that served them well on their way to the Premier League title in May, but a sluggish start left them with too much to do against a rampant Bayern.

German forward Mueller struck twice after Rafinha put Bayern ahead in the sixth minute before Chelsea pulled a goal back through Marcos Alonso on the stroke of haltime and added a late consolation from Michy Batshuayi who was set up by Morata. 

The German side’s tactics were to sit back and punish Chelsea on the counter and the plan worked wonders with new signing James Rodriguez, Mueller and Franck Ribery able to unlock the English champions’ defence with alarming ease.

After a fairly pedestrian opening, Bayern full back Rafinha scored for the German champions, cutting in from the right wing and drilling home a low drive into the opposite corner past sprawling Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. 

Bayern looked irresistible and doubled the lead six minutes later when Ribery skipped past Cesar Azpilicueta on the left side of the penalty area, then dinked over an inviting cross for Mueller to volley home his first goal from close range.

Rodriguez appeared comfortable in a roaming role behind Polish striker Robert Lewandowski and although the Colombian spurned several chances to extend Bayern’s lead, Ancelotti would have been pleased with what he saw of his new recruit. 

Mueller then made it 3-0 with a spectacular long-range effort after 26 minutes when the German international strolled forward from halfway towards a passive Chelsea defence and unleashed a curling shot past Courtois from 25 metres.

“It was a really nice reaction by the side after the result against Milan so we are very happy and everything is going good,” Mueller said in a pitchside interview.

Regular substitutions

Chelsea had been completely outclassed but hauled themselves back into the contest on the stroke of halftime when left back Alonso latched on to Victor Moses’ low cross from the right and beat keeper Tom Starke with a low, crisp shot. 

Both sides made regular substitutions in the second half with Chelsea bringing on Morata, a reported £70 million ($91.26 million) recruit from Real Madrid on Friday, who looked sharp despite only joining up with his new team on Monday.

The Spaniard made an almost instant impact when he nodded on a corner to allow Batshuayi to stab home from close range in the 86th minute, but Bayern held on for victory in front of 48,500 fans packed into the Singapore National Stadium.

“It’s too early to speak about Alvaro’s impact as he’s only been with us for two days,” Chelsea manager Antonio Conte said. “For us he is a good buy but we need to give him enough time to adapt to our methods and our style of football.”

Inter Milan are the other team involved in the tournament and they will play Bayern on Thursday before rounding out the tournament against Chelsea on Saturday.

MELBOURNE — Australia’s Cate Campbell says she felt betrayed by swimming in the wake of her flop at last year’s Rio Olympics where she was tipped to win gold in the 50 and 100 metres freestyle events but failed to even get on the podium.

The former 100 freestyle world champion later remarked that it was “possibly the greatest choke in Olympic history” and broke down in tears in a televised interview.

Taking a long lay-off after Rio, Campbell has elected to skip the ongoing world championships in Budapest where Swede Sarah Sjostrom smashed the Australian’s 100 freestyle world record with a 51.71 second lead-off swim during the 4x100 relay on Sunday.

Despite winning relay gold and silver in Rio, Campbell said she felt “let down” by a sport she had worked so hard to dominate.

“It hurt me deeply in the way that if you are in a relationship with someone. Swimming let me down,” she said in comments published by The Australian newspaper.

“It’s strange, because it was 100 per cent me [at fault] and I was in control, but I felt like I had given so much of myself to this thing and it had just really let me down and I was feeling really hurt by it.”

Campbell added that she was too scared to return to the pool until she had a casual swim at her Brisbane training pool six weeks after the games.

“I hadn’t been in the water at all, I had no desire to,” the 25-year-old said.

“I was bitter and I was angry and I was frustrated and I was scared and I knew I wanted to make changes in my life but I didn’t know how drastic the changes needed to be and I probably needed that first swim to put everything back in perspective and put all of those demons to rest.”

Campbell, who won the 100m freestyle world title in Barcelona in 2013, has yet to commit to a full training regime but plans to ramp up her preparations for the home Commonwealth Games at the Gold Coast next year.

She will then have a tilt at a fourth Olympics at Tokyo two years later.

Campbell’s younger sister Bronte is defending her 50 and 100m freestyle titles at the world championships in Hungary but has played down her chances after preparations blighted by pain in both shoulders.

That has boosted Sjostrom’s hopes of capturing her first 100m freestyle title after finishing runner-up at the last two world championships.

“She [Sjostrom] is an incredible competitor, watching her swim is like poetry in motion,” said Cate Campbell.

“If I want to be the best, and ultimately I am a competitive person and I do want to be the best, that will be the standard I have to get to.”

AMMAN — Jordan’s young Olympic sensation Khader Baqlah smashed his national record for the 200m Freestyle on Monday at the FINA World Swimming Championships taking place in Budapest, according to the Jordan Olympic Committee News Service. 

A day after setting a new Jordan best in the 400m, the 18-year-old finished second in his 200m heat in a time of one minute 47.68 seconds, smashing his previous best of 1:48.42 set at the Rio Olympics last summer.

The time placed him 19th overall, just outside the 16 swimmers who advanced to the semi-finals, but it shows once again that he is closing the gap on the world’s best. Jordan’s participation in Budapest will continue Tuesday with Dara Al Bakri competing in the women’s 200m freestyle.