Sports

DEAD SEA — Mohammed Tayseer on Friday was crowned champion of the first round of the Speed Test Championship held at the Service Park at the Dead Sea with the participation of 52 drivers.

Tayseer clocked 1m25.67s, followed by Gaith Wraikat (1m28.63s) and Abed Shikakhwa (1m29.17s.)

The event which was labelled a successful start for the new season by fans saw Tayseer defending his 2015 title by clocking 1m28.63s in the first run.

“It was a very exciting start and very challenging. I managed to register a good time in the first run and move smoothly to the last and decisive third run,” Tayseer told The Jordan Times.

“The event witnessed excellent drivers who have years of experience, and this is the level that forces you to focus more and do your best,” he added.

Lina Hadidi, who registered 1m37.20s in the first run failed to reach the third run and settled for the Women’s Cup.

Veteran driver Ayman Najjar, who succeeded in joining the ten elite drivers for the third run could not break any records. 

Othman Naseef, Jordan Motorsport CEO expressed his satisfaction of the first event saying: “It was an excellent opener for this season and the participation by the drivers was great. The level of competition promises a very good season.”

And regarding women’s participation.

“We hope to have more female participation this season and we encourage them to join this sports and be part of one of the most challenging sports in the world.”

Women drivers such as a veteran driver Nancy Majali and new comers Hadidi and Marina Habaybeh have made a positive impact on auto sports in the Kingdom with their enthusiasm and dedication.

Four more speed Test will be held during this year’s Speed Test Championship.

AMMAN — Jordan’s Wihdat will now switch focus to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup after being eliminated from the preliminary round of the Asian Champions League (ACL) for the second consecutive year.

Observers have lauded Wihdat’s performance in their 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia’s Ittihad Jeddah. As Jordan Professional League champs, Wihdat were Jordan’s representative in the ACL — the premier Asian competition — last year as well and were knocked out in the preliminary round by former titleholders Kuwait’s Qadissieh. In 2014, Shabab Urdun were eliminated by Bahrain’s Al Hidd.

Failing to advance to the group stages of the ACL, Wihdat will now join Faisali in the AFC Cup this season with matches scheduled to kick off on February 23. Had Wihdat advanced past the ACL preliminary round, Jazira would have joined Faisali in the AFC Cup.

The AFC — the second-tier Asian club competition — has been won three times by Jordanian teams : Faisali won titles in 2005 and 2006, and Shabab Urdun won in 2007.

The upcoming 13th edition seems to bode well for Jordanian clubs to win back the title after record winning Kuwaiti teams were suspended by FIFA. Prize money includes $1 million for the champs, $500,000 for the runners-up, $40,000 for semifinalists, $25,000 for quarter-finalists and $15,000 for teams reaching the Round of 16.

Wihdat have been league champs for the past two seasons. This year their fortunes have turned around as they conceded the season opening 33rd Super Cup to rivals Faisali. After elimination from the Jordan Cup, they only have the league title in contention. As Leg 2 restarted last week and clubs kicked off their regional matches, Wihdat sought to revamp the team, signing new pros and hope to compete for local and regional titles.

In 2015, Jordanian teams were absent from advanced stages of Asian competitions as Wihdat and Jazira were knocked out of the AFC Cup Round of 16. While it was the first time for Jazira, who finished runner-up in the Jordan League and participated in the event after two-time AFC Cup champs and Faisali declined, Wihdat were hoping to advance and win the AFC Cup for the first time after taking part eight times.

AMMAN — Riyadi ended Round 2, Leg 1 matches atop the standings in the Jordan Basketball League in the battle for the soon-to-be- decided play-offs for the title.

Riyadi beat Awdeh 86-61 to score their third straight win in Round 2 after overcoming Round 1 unbeaten team Hurrieh 73-67 and Orthodoxi 73-65. Riyadi have now reversed their Round 1 form and need to keep their focus in Leg 2 of the competition to play for the title.

Orthodoxi also heated up the competition after signing new recruits like Sam Daghlas and managed to beat Hurrieh 78-58 after they beat Awdeh 86-82 last week.

Awdeh have lost their grip after they were the only team that managed to beat Round 1 leaders Hurrieh 65-61 earlier in Leg 1.

At the other end of the standings in the battle to avoid relegation Kufr Youba beat Jalil 69-67 to lead the bottom four standings, ahead of Jalil. Ghazzet Hashem beat Nashama 75-60 as the latter remained winless. The bottom two will be relegated to Division 1.

Hurrieh had finished Round 1 with an unbeaten record, while Orthodoxi were second after they beat Riyad. With teams like Applied Science University, Ittihad, Wihdat pulling out of the competition, Awdeh joined the top four. 

Following two legs of matches in the current Round 2, final standings from 1-4 will be decided to determine who advance to the final play-offs for the title.

The top four teams will now start a 10-day break and resume Leg 2 on February 24 as Orthodoxi prepare to host the West Asian Clubs Championship from February 17-22 in which Lebanon’s Riyadi and Champville, Iran’s Petroshemi, Iraq’s Shurta and Syria’s Wihdeh will compete.

Apart from Riyadi and Orthodoxi, leading clubs abandoned the game this season leading to major changes in the league. Former champs Applied Science University and Ittihad disbanded their teams and quit the game over differences with the Jordan Basketball Federation which led to a sharp decline in the game locally and Jordan’s regional competitive chances.

FIFA presidential candidate HRH Prince Ali has questioned the role of election rival Sheikh Salman in not protecting Bahrain players who alleged abuses after pro-democracy protests in 2011, The Associated Press reported.

In the strongest statement yet on human rights ahead of the February 26 election, the prince dismissed the sheikh's consistent defence that national security issues are beyond the control of sports leaders.

"How are you then going to earn the respect of the entire world and players across the world, as well as FAs [football associations], if you couldn't even take care of your own?" Prince Ali told reporters on Thursday after a news conference near the United Nations office in Geneva.

Sheikh Salman has become front-runner in a FIFA campaign he began by strongly denying any part in helping to identify athletes who took part in Arab Spring protests five years ago.

Some Bahrain team players alleged they were tortured by government forces while detained for attending pro-democracy events.

Sheikh Salman was then president of the Bahrain Football Association, and has often said government issues are not the duty of sports leaders.

"Whatever is related to the political side and government side is not a concern of mine," the sheikh told the Associated Press in an interview in Paris on Tuesday. "We are people of football. They can ask me anything that is related to the game."

Prince Ali rejected that argument on Thursday, two weeks ahead of the five-man election.

"If a candidate was in a position before and simply says that, 'Those issues are to do with politics and therefore I cannot interfere?' No," the prince told a small group of reporters. "If you are not going to take care of your own players and if you are not going to stick up for them, that in itself is a problem."

In the earlier news conference, the prince replied to a question about human rights in Bahrain by saying the protection of players was a "simple, basic fact of the matter".

Still, Prince Ali acknowledged that a candidate's record on human rights was for the FIFA election committee to decide.

The three-member FIFA election panel approved Sheikh Salman's candidacy in November after weighing an analysis by the governing body's ethics committee.

"I give the benefit of the doubt to everyone," said Prince Ali.

‘FIFA politics’ 

Also on Thursday the prince said some national teams have been given unfavourable competition fixtures for failing to toe the political line inside football’s world governing body, according to Reuters.

Prince Ali described a climate of fear and reprisals inside the scandal-plagued organisation, whose outgoing boss Sepp Blatter was suspended in October and banned for eight years in December.

"Let me tell you what happens when you don't go with the recognised powers in FIFA," Prince Ali, who is head of Jordan's football association, told a news conference.

"Development projects mysteriously stall; tournament hosting bids are suddenly compromised or withdrawn; national teams start to mysteriously face less favourable fixtures or even referees.

"All of these are effective ways to punish member associations that fail to demonstrate political loyalty."

FIFA is mired in the worst crisis in its 111-year history, with corruption investigations under way in Switzerland and the United States. Several dozen people, including senior soccer officials, have been indicted.

Prince Ali is regarded as an outsider in the February 26 election to succeed Blatter, who has led FIFA since 1998. Swiss-Italian Gianni Infantino has won the backing of European soccer's governing body UEFA and South America's CONMEBOL, while Africa's confederation has backed Sheikh Salman.

Speaking later to Reuters Television, Prince Ali did not enlarge on the allegation that national teams had been given unfavourable fixtures, but he said the practice had extended to FIFA competitions.

"I'm referring to competitions and a lot of times it comes down to the [continental] confederations as well, and the way they approach games," he said.

"It's a common feeling within the footballing world and it's something that one has to really tackle and make sure there is no interference in terms of how things are planned."

Asked if the practice included World Cup qualifiers, he said: "I think sometimes it happens across the board."

FIFA could not immediately be reached for comment.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday tweeted his support for HRH Prince Ali in his run for the FIFA presidency. 

The King also thanked countries and football associations that pledged their support for Prince Ali. 

“Proud of Prince Ali, for his dedication to positive change in FIFA. Thankful to all entities supporting his candidacy,” the King said on the Royal Court Twitter account @RHCJO. 

Prince Ali will compete with four other candidates in the February 26 election. 

Candidates for the presidency of world’s football governing body are Asian Football Confederation President Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain; Gianni Infantino, the UEFA general secretary from Switzerland; former FIFA official Jerome Champagne of France; and South African businessman Tokyo Sexwale. 

Last month, the Iraq Football Association pledged their support for Prince Ali during a meeting between him and an official delegation in Amman. 

Palestine’s football federation has also expressed support for the prince’s presidency bid.

Earlier this week, Prince Ali announced on his Twitter account (@AliBinAlHussein ) that he received endorsements from football federations in Liberia and Egypt. 

“Deeply honoured by the support of #Liberia as we work across the world to bring the change needed for #FIFA’s future,” Prince Ali wrote.

In another tweet, the prince said: “A great honour to today receive the endorsement and trust of the Egyptian FA for the presidency of FIFA.”

“I’m running to bring good governance, transparency & accountability, but also because I see how great FIFA could be,” he wrote on his Twitter account.

AMMAN — The first round of the popular Speed Test Championship “Kumho Speed Test” kicks off on Friday with the participation of 55 drivers at the Service Park at the Dead Sea.

The event, expected to attract hundreds of fans who will take advantage of the fair weather of the Dead Sea area ,will witness the participation of last year’s champion Mohammed Tayseer, who will be defending his title against the best in this sports.

Veteran drivers Ayman Najjar and Husam Salem will also bring excitement to the series in addition to Jad Nabas, Gaith Wraikat, Salem Taimeh and women driver Lina Hadidi. 

Othman Naseef, Jordan Motorsport CEO told The Jordan Times that everything is set for this season’s opener.

“We are really excited to kick off this season for the Speed Test championship with this challenging round. All preparations are set so everyone to enjoy the competition and the fair weather of the Dead Sea area,” he said.

“We are expecting a very competitive first round with the winner taking 20 points, second place 18 points and third place 16 points. Usually the first round defines the shape of the championship and starting at the Service Park will bring uniqueness to the event,” he added.

Last year, Tayseer won the first round of the 2015 season held at the Royal Automobile Club of Jordan racetrack after clocking 1m33.970s, followed by Rami Kaghado (1m36.100s) and Jad Nabas (1m37.980s).

AMMAN — Basketball matches on the weekend will again be vital and exciting as competition heats up with the top four playing Stage 3 matches in the battle for the play-offs.

Riyadi will next play Awdeh — the team that managed to beat Round 1 unbeaten leaders Hurrieh 65-61 last week. So far, Riyadi beat Hurrieh 73-67 and Orthodoxi 73-65. The team reversed their Round 1 form when they were close to many wins which seemed not within their grasp. Now Riyadi need to keep their focus as Orthodoxi also heat up the competition after they beat Awdeh 86-82 before they play Hurrieh in the last week of the current leg.

Following two legs of matches in the current Round 2, final standings from 1-4 will be decided to determine who advances to the final play-offs for the title.

Hurrieh finished Round 1 with an unbeaten record, while Orthodoxi were second after they beat Riyadi in the final week. With teams like Applied Science University, Ittihad, Wihdat pulling out of the competition, Awdeh joined the top four. 

The bottom four include Jalil, Ghazzet Hashem, Kufr Youba and Nashama and are now playing two legs in the battle to avoid relegation. So far, Jalil beat Nashama 52-45, Kufr Youba beat Ghazzet Hashem 73-57, Ghazzet Hashem beat Jalil 73-48 and Kufr Youba beat Nashama 78-68.

Apart from Orthodoxi and Riyadi, the league has undergone many changes. Former champs Applied Science University and Ittihad have pulled out of competitions over differences with the Jordan Basketball Federation and their players have been dispersed to other clubs. Clubs with no fan base are competing in what is seen as a sharp decline in the game locally and internationally.

OAKLAND, California — Stephen Curry had 35 points, nine assists and six rebounds to help the Golden State Warriors put away the Houston Rockets in the fourth quarter of a 123-110 victory Tuesday night. Even with a remarkable 47-4 record, Golden State are far from satisfied.

“We can definitely play better and just sustain our level of play and be more consistent over 48 minutes. It’s hard,” Curry said. “As long as you keep that at the forefront and challenge yourselves, that’s what hopefully inspires to continue to get better.”

Andrew Bogut added 13 points, 11 rebounds, three steals and a season-high six blocked shots — three in the fourth — during one of his best games yet.

“Bogut was phenomenal,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.

Iguodala and Harrison Barnes hit consecutive 3-pointers to start the fourth quarter to get the defending champions going after the game was tied at 93 after the third.

Golden State won their 42nd straight regular-season home game and are 24-0 at Oracle Arena this season. The Warriors are within two home victories of matching the Chicago Bulls’ NBA-record home winning streak of 44 games from March 30, 1995, to April 4, 1996.

James Harden overcame a scoreless first quarter to finish with 37 points, five assists and five rebounds in Houston’s eighth straight loss to Golden State.

“We didn’t win the game but we gained some momentum. It was a competitive game against an undefeated team at home and we put ourselves in a position to win,” Harden said.

At Miami, LaMarcus Aldridge scored 28 points, Kawhi Leonard added 23 and the San Antonio Spurs got seven points on one possession in the fourth quarter to help them beat the Heat 119-101 on Tuesday night.

Danny Green added 15 for the Spurs, who have won six straight over the Heat going back to the 2014 NBA finals.

Dwyane Wade scored 20 points on 9 for 12 shooting for Miami, which goes into the All-Star break on a two-game slide. Chris Bosh scored 18 and Hassan Whiteside added 14 points and six rebounds before getting ejected in that pivotal possession in the fourth.

Whiteside was assessed a flagrant-2 for elbowing the Spurs’ Boban Marjanovic as they tried to get position for a rebound. That was part of a seven-point trip for the Spurs, who pushed an 87-80 lead to 94-80 in 16 seconds and weren’t threatened again.

At Dallas, Gordon Hayward hit a fade away jumper at the buzzer in overtime and Utah extended their season-best winning streak to seven games with a 121-119 victory over the Mavericks.

Rodney Hood had a tying 3-pointer with 1.5 seconds left in regulation as the Jazz ended a 10-game losing streak in Dallas. Their last win on the Mavericks’ home court was January 9, 2010.

Hood finished with 29 points, and Hayward had 20, including 13 in the second half and overtime.

Chandler Parsons led Dallas with 24 points but missed an open 3-pointer for the lead with 24 seconds left in the Mavericks’ second straight overtime game and NBA-high eighth of the season.

At New York, John Wall had 28 points and 17 assists, Bradley Beal scored 26, and Washington beat New York 111-108 in the Knicks’ first game under Kurt Rambis.

Wall made four free throws in the final 6.6 seconds and the Wizards held on when Langston Galloway’s 3-pointer at the buzzer was just short.

Carmelo Anthony had 33 points and 13 rebounds, but the Knicks lost their sixth straight in their first game since firing Derek Fisher on Monday. They have dropped 10 of 11 and started Rambis’ era the same way Fisher’s ended, by quickly falling in a huge early hole.

At Milwaukee, Khris Middleton made one of two free throws with 0.6 seconds left as Milwaukee defeated Boston 112-111.

Middleton drew a foul on Avery Bradley to get to the line. Boston had tied the game when Kelly Olynyk made two free throws with one second remaining.

Milwaukee appeared to have won the game on Greg Monroe’s last-second hook shot, giving the Bucks a 111-109 lead. Olynyk then drew the foul with no time expiring off the clock.

Monroe, who was removed from the starting line-up, had 29 points and 12 rebounds as the Bucks ended a five-game losing streak.

Crowder and Bradley had 18 points each for the Celtics.

PARIS — FIFA presidential candidate Sheikh Salman is calling on voters to agree on a single candidate ahead of the election.

In an interview with The Associated Press (AP) on Tuesday, Sheikh Salman dismissed suggestions that winning a contested election would give him a stronger mandate to lead world football’s governing body.

“If we go to election there will be losers and maybe sometimes you need to avoid that result,” he said.

The Bahraini royal and UEFA general secretary, Gianni Infantino, are seen as front runners among five candidates in the February 26 vote.

Sheikh Salman said it was best for FIFA if “we have a clear indication on who will be elected”.

“We have to be realistic. We know the chances of each candidate,” said the Asian Football Confederation president, who has the majority backing of his own continent and from African football leaders. The two blocs count for 100 of the 209 FIFA voting federations.

“Every day we calculate. I am sure that, of course, it is positive,” Sheikh Salman said. “I hope that Europe looks at it from an organisational point of view, and not an individual, on what is best.

“And if there is an agreement then I think it is a win-win. Everybody is involved and everybody has a share of the power and gets involved in the decision-making. But everybody has the right to run and go ahead. It is not up to me to decide on that.”

A pre-election deal to unite behind one man was suggested last week by FIFA executive committee member Vitaly Mutko, the Russian sports minister.

“Mr Mutko’s comments reflect the feeling of a lot of people around,” Sheikh Salman said. “It can be done through [the national federations]. They can persuade.”

The two election front runners were both in Paris on Tuesday with their campaign teams.

Sheikh Salman met with the AP on Tuesday in a five-star hotel about one kilometre from another hotel where Infantino attended a meeting of leading European clubs.

The sheikh declined to confirm if there had been direct talks between the two camps.

Infantino declined to speak about FIFA issues before presenting his election pitch at the European Club Association meeting.

One deal option for Asia and Europe has been aired often since the campaign took shape last October — that Sheikh Salman becomes FIFA president with Infantino as his secretary general.

“Europe has to look after its interests as well,” Sheikh Salman acknowledged. “We are open for dialogue. The decision is not just my decision now. I have a partner now and Africa is my partner and I will consult with the Africans on all future steps.”

CLEVELAND — LeBron James had 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for his 40th career triple-double, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 120-100 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Monday night.

Kyrie Irving matched his season high with 32 points for Cleveland. The point guard was 13 of 21 from the field and tied his career high with 12 assists.

It was James’ first triple-double of the season. The four-time MVP rested during the fourth quarter.

Cleveland went ahead early in the game and steadily built their lead against the listless Kings, who have dropped eight of nine.

Rudy Gay and Omri Casspi led Sacramento with 16 points each.

Clippers 98, 76ers 92, OT

J.J. Redick had 23 points, including the tying three-pointer late in regulation and Jamal Crawford also scored 23 points to lead the short-handed Clippers to the win.

The Clippers overcame their largest deficit in a victory this season, coming back from 19 points down to win their 19th game in the last 23 overall and 12th in the last 14 on the road.

Jerami Grant had 17 points to lead the 76ers, who were looking for their first winning streak of the season.

Los Angeles took control in overtime, scoring the first eight points in the extra session as Philadelphia missed 10 straight shots to end regulation and start OT.

Magic 117, Hawks 110, OT

Nikola Vucevic scored 25 of his 28 points after halftime and Orlando rallied from 20 points down to beat Atlanta in overtime.

Orlando, which trailed by 20 in the opening period and by 18 in the third, took their first lead at 96-94 on Mario Hezonja’s three-pointer with 3:33 remaining in regulation.

Orlando scored the first six points of overtime, including a jumper by Vucevic, who also had 13 rebounds. Kyle Korver’s three-pointer pulled the Hawks to 112-110, but Evan Fournier answered with a 3 for the Magic.

Al Horford led Atlanta with 27 points, and Paul Millsap had 22 points and 13 rebounds.

Trail Blazers 112, Grizzlies 106, OT

Damian Lillard scored 33 points for Portland, and C.J. McCollum had six of his 21 points in overtime.

McCollum scored the first three baskets of OT to create a buffer for the Trail Blazers.

Mike Conley led Memphis with 27 points. Zach Randolph added 26 points as the Grizzlies lost their second straight overtime game.

Thunder 122, Suns 106

Kevin Durant scored 25 of his 32 points in the second half and Oklahoma City pulled away in the final four minutes to hand Phoenix its eighth consecutive loss.

The Suns, losers of 23 of their last 25 games, were in it most of the way and led by as many as six late in the third quarter. But Durant sank two three-pointers in a 16-4 Oklahoma City run to finish the game.

Russell Westbrook added 29 points for the Thunder, who were coming off a 116-108 loss at Golden State on Saturday night.

Markieff Morris scored 23 points for Phoenix, and Archie Goodwin had 20.

Raptors 103, Pistons 89

Kyle Lowry scored 25 points, and Toronto went on an 11-2 run at the start of the fourth quarter to pull away for their 14th victory in 15 games.

Terrence Ross added 18 points for the Raptors, who recovered quickly after Detroit’s Andre Drummond made a shot from about 24m to end the third quarter. Toronto led 70-65 at the start of the fourth, and Lowry’s driving three-point play set the tone for the final period.

Drummond had 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Pistons.

Nets 105, Nuggets 104

Joe Johnson’s three-pointer at the buzzer lifted Brooklyn to the victory.

Thaddeus Young scored 20 points for the Nets. Markel Brown added a career-high 19 and Johnson finished with 12 points and eight assists.

Danilo Gallinari had 24 points and Kenneth Faried added 24 points and 13 rebounds for the Nuggets.

Pelicans 116, Timberwolves 102

Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday scored 27 points apiece, and New Orleans snapped a four-game losing streak.

Davis grabbed eight rebounds and Holiday had nine assists and five boards as well. Ryan Anderson chipped in 26 points and the Pelicans turned 12 turnovers into 21 points while turning the ball over just four times themselves.

Karl-Anthony Towns had 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who were looking for their first three-game winning streak since November 27. They shot 44 per cent and trailed by as many as 28 in a lacklustre effort.

Pacers 89, Lakers 87

Indiana’s Paul George scored all seven of his second-half points in the final 71 seconds and Monta Ellis made two free throws with 20.6 seconds left to clinch the win.

George finished with 21 points and nine rebounds. Myles Turner added 14 points and 13 rebounds on a night the Pacers (28-24) blew a 17-point second-half lead, and then scored nine straight points for the win.

Kobe Bryant scored 19 points in his final appearance in Indianapolis. He made three straight three-pointers to give the Lakers an 82-79 lead with 2:30 left to play. But he also missed two threes in the final 20 seconds.

Los Angeles (11-43) has dropped 16 of its last 19 games.

Hornets 108, Bulls 91

Kemba Walker scored 30 points, powering Charlotte to the victory.

Nicolas Batum had 19 points and 13 rebounds for the Hornets, who won their third straight over the Bulls at home. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist scored 20 points.

Pau Gasol finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds for Chicago.