Sports

AMMAN — Riyadi-Aramex have done it. They won the Jordan Basketball League for the second consecutive year after a closely contested season.

Riyadi beat Orthodoxi 68-55 on Tuesday evening ending Awdeh’s ambitions of attempting to win the title for the first time. Awdeh’s beat Kufr Youba 83-82 to settle for second place, leaving Orthdoxi third.

Riyadi had scored a vital 67-61 win over Orthodoxi in Leg 1 of the final round and beat Awdeh 78-69. Last year’s fourth-placed Awdeh were boosted by the signing of Mahmoud Abdeen midway through the final stage of the competition and beat Orthodoxi twice in the final round, and managed a 75-74 win over Riyadi to boost their competition chances.

With no import players this year and a shortened format with no best-of-five play-offs for the  title, Orthodoxi lead the preliminary round of the competition, beating holders Riyadi as the top four were decided while the bottom four battled it out with Jalil, Anjara,  Hurrieh and  Deir Abi Saied contesting the relegation play-offs.

AMMAN – It is down to the final day of the Basketball League to decide this year’s champion. Riyadi need to beat Orthodoxi on Tuesday to win the title, otherwise Awdeh will be crowned champions for the first time.

Titleholders Riyadi lead the league’s Leg 2 after they beat Kufr Youba 69-58 in their latest match while Awdeh made sure Orthodoxi’s ambitions were halted after they repeated their win 74-64.

Riyadi could have sealed the title race earlier but lost 75-74 to Awdeh earlier this week.

In Leg 1 of the final round, Riyadi scored a vital 67-61 win over Orthodoxi and earlier beat Awdeh 78-69. After leading the preliminary round of the competition, it was Orthodoxi’s second consecutive defeat after they lost 72-62 to Awdeh. 

In the first round of the competition, Riyadi only lost to Orthodoxi as the top four were decided, while the bottom four battled it out with Jalil, Anjara, Hurrieh and Deir Abi Saied contesting the relegation play-offs. 

Last year’s fourth-placed Awdeh were boosted by the signing of Mahmoud Abdeen midway through the current stage of the competition which had no import players this year and a shortened format wit no best-of-five play-offs for the title.

In the 2015-2016 season, Riyadi-Aramex were crowned league champs — a title which had eluded them for 20 years — when they beat titleholders Orthodoxi to win the best-of -seven play-offs 4-0. Riyadi-Aramex had last won the league in 1997 by then Jazira-Aramex team (whose players later on formed Riyadi’s line-up). Hurrieh were third last year sealing the best-of-five play-offs 3-2 against Awdeh with teams like former league and cup champs Applied Science University, Ittihad, and Wihdat pulling out of the competition over differences with the Jordan Basketball Federation and players dispersed over the rest of clubs.

Orthodoxi, who won their record 23rd league title in the 2014-15 season, last year won the Jordan Cup.

The Basketball League which started in 1952 has had 58 editions with eight teams crowned champion. It was cancelled in three seasons and discontinued once. Orthodoxi have won 23 times, Ahli 21, Zain (Fastlink) six times, ASU four times, Jazira-Aramex twice, while Riyadi, Urdun, Watany and the Electricity Co. won once each.

BANGKOK — Amy Yang sank a short birdie putt on the 72nd hole to seal a five-stroke victory at the Honda LPGA in Thailand on Sunday, the Korean claiming the title for a second time with a new tournament record.

The 2015 champion closed with a four-under 68 at the Siam Country Club in Chonburi to finish with a 22-under-par total of 266, one shot lower than the previous record and well clear of nearest rival, fellow Korean Ryu So-yeon (68).

Compatriot Kim Sei-young finished a further two strokes back in third place, while Americans Lexi Thompson and Danielle Kang shared fourth place alongside another Korean, Chun In-gee, on 13-under-par at the rain-hit event.

Frustrating weather delays during the first three rounds left the players either battling boredom or needing to play almost 36 holes in a day, but Yang stayed focused throughout to claim a third LPGA title after leading for all four days.

“I’m beyond happy,” Yang said in a greenside interview. 

“It wasn’t easy with all the rain delays, 4am wake-up calls two days in a row, but I stayed patient out there and did my best and I am delighted to have won the tournament.”

Starting her final round with a five-shot cushion, Yang always appeared in control of her destiny but when Ryu threatened to cut her lead to just two strokes on the back-nine, the 27-year-old produced a pair of title-winning shots.

Yang made a complete mess of her chip from beside the green on the par-four 14th, but breathed a huge sigh of relief when she drained a difficult 20-foot downhill putt to match Ryu’s par and keep her advantage at a manageable three shots.

“The chip wasn’t easy from the bottom [of the slope] and I had a poor bounce but I knew I had to make the putt and fortunately I did,” added Yang, who only recorded two bogeys all week.

Still pumped by the adrenaline of her clutch par-save, Yang sent a booming drive into the centre of the green on the short par-four 15th and was able to extend her lead by another shot with a tap-in birdie as Ryu’s challenge faded with a par.

“I love this place, I love the people here and I always seem to play well,” Yang said. “It’s a great start to the year and I am really looking forward to the rest of the season.”

DEAD SEA — Othman Takriti on Friday was crowned champion of the first round of the Jordan Drift Championship, organised by Jordan Motorsport held with the participation of 50 drivers from Jordan and Palestine at the Service Park of the Dead Sea area.

Takriti in his BMW E46 registered 373 points after winning the first, second and the best 13 cars’ heats, followed by Mohammed Fuqaha in his BMW E30 with 370 points and Abdullah Abu Hussein in his BMW E30 with 366 points.

With this first win, Takriti who collected the first 25 points of the championship said: “This is really exciting for me to start this season with a big win despite the solid competition. I will continue to train and hopefully I will be able to win the second round.” 

The event witnessed the retirement of last year’s champion Mohammed Kukhen and his brother Omar.

Othman Naseef, Jordan Motorsport CEO said that the event was a success.

“We had around 5000 fans who followed closely the event and this number shows the level of interest by Jordanians to this kind of events. We will keep bringing surprises in this auto season so everyone can enjoy,” he said.

“Safety issues were our first priority and we are happy that ever driver had the chance to impress his fans and be safe at the same time,” he added. 

SEVILLE, Spain — Jamie Vardy scored his first goal in the Champions League to give Leicester City some hope of staying in Europe’s elite competition despite a 2-1 loss to an utterly dominant Sevilla in Wednesday’s last-16 first leg. 

Pablo Sarabia headed the hosts into a deserved lead in the 25th minute after Kasper Schmeichel had saved Joaquin Correa’s penalty. Argentine forward Correa made amends by netting in the 62nd minute after inspired play from Stevan Jovetic.

Leicester were outplayed by the home side, who had 80 per cent of possession in the first half, and it took a number of brilliant saves from Schmeichel to keep them in the game, while Sevilla’s Vitolo hit the inside of the post.

Vardy made the most of a rare attacking opportunity for the struggling English champions by blasting in a cross from Danny Drinkwater from close range in the 73rd minute, and Claudio Ranieri’s side were fortunate not to concede late on when Adil Rami’s header smashed against the crossbar.

Ranieri admitted before the game that Sevilla were the superior outfit and it was difficult to argue with that statement as the hosts dictated the first half, monopolising possession and frequently piling forward with purpose.

Sarabia had their first shot at goal less than five minutes into the game while Christian Fuchs nearly headed the ball into his own net as he stooped to clear the danger, forcing the first of many interventions from Schmeichel.

The Dane got his side out of jail by guessing the right way and catching Correa’s penalty after the Argentine had been felled by a lumbering challenge from Leicester captain Wes Morgan, and he was quickly down again to repel a shot from Sergio Escudero.

There was little Schmeichel could do about the opening goal which was set up by a brilliant cross from Escudero and powered into the far corner by Sarabia, and he was called into action twice more before the break to deny Jovetic and Correa.

Sevilla’s intensity dropped a couple of notches after the break, but they still looked far more dangerous than Leicester who are a shadow of the team that won the Premier League title last season with two games to spare.

Vitolo came close to doubling Sevilla’s lead when he sent the ball rolling off the inside of the post and Correa got the second goal after Jovetic had carried the ball into the box with a combination of stylish flicks and headers.

Sevilla’s class looked to have shone through but Vardy’s first goal since December gives Leicester a fighting chance for the second leg at home on March 14.

AMMAN — Jordan has launched its participation at the 8th Asian Winter Games with Suhail Azzam competing in the Giant Slalom in Sapporo, Japan, according to the Jordan Olympic Committee (JOC)  News Service.

On a difficult course in which 25 per cent of competitors failed to finish, Suhail successfully completed both of his runs to boost his confidence ahead of his second event, the Slalom, on Friday.

Meanwhile his teammate, Sara Sukhtian, has revealed why she answered the late call to enter the 8th Asian Winter Games by explaining “I hope that it opens the door for more regular Jordan participation in the future”.

The 37-year-old will compete in Thursday’s Giant Slalom in Sapporo, Japan, after agreeing only last month to step in following an invitation from the Olympic Council of Asia.

“It is very important for Jordan to be represented at this event as it gives Jordanian athletes from around the world who excel at winter sports the opportunity to compete at an international level,” Sara said.

“Although Jordan’s natural geography is not conducive for winter sports, I’m certain of the fact that there are many Jordanian expats around the world who have picked up these winter sports and would appreciate the opportunity to participate. Our participation this week raises awareness of those opportunities.”

Sara has been a keen skier since she was three but is making her competitive debut in Sapporo. She says the experience will be one to cherish and her expectations are realistic.

“I am in a field of athletes who have dedicated themselves to these sports so I expect to learn a lot,” she added. “I nevertheless hope to make Jordan proud and pave the way for future athletes to participate.

I also hope to use this as an opportunity to demonstrate to young Jordanians that the most important thing is not to win but to take part, leading by example.

I am really proud that the JOC is going out of its way to increase Jordanian participation in these international games, and I would encourage any athlete with such ambitions to reach out to the JOC and sign up to represent Jordan.

I also want to take this opportunity to thank the JOC for this great chance to represent Jordan.”

Sukhtian completed her Giant Slalom competition by finishing a credible 22nd.

Despite facing a tricky course that several competitors were unable to complete, Sukhtian finished both her runs and place above two competitors from Pakistan and another from Mongolia to ensure Jordan has an official time for future compatriots to target.

“It was important for us to be represented here and show the Olympic Council of Asia that Jordan is serious about competing in winter sports events,” she said.

“I am really pleased to have finished. It was a very challenging course so I am delighted with what was achieved. I hope that other Jordanians with a passion for winter sports will see that there is an opportunity for them to compete for their country in the future.”

The event was won by Japan’s Emi Hasegawa.

Meanwhile, Sukhtian’s teammate Suhail Azzam also completed the men’s Giant Slalom yesterday and will go in the Slalom on Friday.

The 8th Asian Winter Games got under way on Sunday and will welcome almost 1,000 athletes from 32 countries. It will finish on February 26.

DEAD SEA — The first round of Jordan Drift Championship organised by Jordan Motorsport shifts into high gear on Friday, with the participation of more than 50 drivers at the Service Park of the Dead Sea area.

Jordan Motorsport CEO Othman Naseef told The Jordan Times that this season will host five drifting events, "including a new event where the best 16 drivers will qualify to take part in the Red Bull qualification round for the year 2017".

"We expect this season to be more challenging and more competitive due to the enthusiasm we witnessed last year, as more new faces are joining the events," he added.

Last year, Mohammed Kukhen captured the title of the Jordan Drift Championship after topping the standings with 100 points from five challenging rounds.

Othman Takriti followed in the second place with 89 points, and Omar Kukhen came in third with 75 points.

Meanwhile, Rafat Haroun and Munir Hattar settled in the fourth and fifth places respectively with 70 points each, and Mohammed Foqaha came in the sixth spot with 66 points.

Last year's first round was won by Kukhen, who in his BMW A46 ended the round with 168 points, followed by Takriti in his BMW A46 (153 points), and Munir Hattar in third place (149 points) in his BMW A30.

Around 4,000 fans watched three heated rounds with the best 13 drivers battling it for the win in the third and most competitive round.

Drifting is a kind of driving technique used by drivers through oversteering and causing a loss of traction whether in the rear wheels or all tyres while controlling a certain entry to exit of a corner.

Drivers will be judged according to speed, angle and perfect track line (90 points), showmanship (5 points) and smoking tyres (5 points).