Sports

SAO PAULO — World Cup organisers in the southern Brazilian city of Curitiba held the first test event at the Arena da Baixada Stadium on Saturday, with Atletico Paranaense and J.Malucelli playing out a goalless draw in front of about 10,000 fans.

The friendly was not considered an official FIFA test event and construction work is expected to continue at full pace to try to finish the stadium in time for the World Cup in less than three months. The local World Cup organising committee said the first full test at the venue is expected to take place on May 14, a month before the tournament begins.

“It’s important that these partial tests happen and that work continues at an intense rhythm,” the local organising committee said in a statement. “This match is an important step for other tests that will take place in the future until all sectors and a full capacity can be tested.”

Only 10,000 people could attend the match because of security reasons. The stadium’s capacity will be about 41,000 during the World Cup, when the venue will host four group-stage matches: Spain-Australia on June 23, Iran-Nigeria on June 16, Honduras-Ecuador on June 20 and Algeria-Russia on June 26.

Curitiba, widely considered one of Brazil’s most advanced cities, was in danger of being excluded from the tournament earlier this year because of the delays at the Arena da Baixada. FIFA gave an ultimatum to local organisers, who had to scramble to expedite work at the last minute.

It was the first match at the stadium since it was closed for renovation in December 2011. It was supposed to be ready in 2013, but Atletico Paranaense and local officials faced difficulties financing the renovation work. Plans for a retractable roof had to be cancelled because it would not be ready in time for the World Cup.

All problems may not be solved yet. On Friday, the Parana state government watchdog group recommended a halt on public financing for the rest of the renovation work until organisers can explain alleged irregularities on the stadium’s budget.

Atletico Paranaense used its regular starters even though the team also had to play in the semifinals of the Parana state championship later on Saturday. The club is focused on the Copa Libertadores so it is using its under-23 squad in the regional tournament.

Former Brazil star striker Adriano, now with Atletico, was among the players stepping for the first time at the pitch of the Arena da Baixada. 

SEPANG, Malaysia — Britain’s Lewis Hamilton won the Malaysian Grand Prix with a pole-to-flag victory ahead of Nico Rosberg on Sunday in a first Mercedes one-two since they returned to Formula One as a works team in 2010.

The 2008 Formula One world champion easily pulled away from his rivals on a dry track with a three-stop strategy to win the race by 17.3 seconds, his 23rd career victory and first in Malaysia at the eighth attempt.

“Really grateful, thank you so much,” the Briton told his team over the radio after taking the chequered flag for his second win for Mercedes since he joined them last year and first points of the season.

Rosberg, who won the season opener in Australia two weeks ago, started in third place but slipped past quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel on the first corner and was able to keep the Red Bull at bay and stay top of the driver standings.

Vettel finished third, 7.2 seconds behind Rosberg, for his first points of the season following an early retirement in Australia as he struggled to make an impact on the Mercedes pair without the rain that helped his qualifying bid on Saturday.

Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso secured his second fourth finish of the season after coming out ahead in a tight battle with Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg in the closing stages.

McLaren’s Jenson Button was sixth with Felipe Massa of Williams seventh just ahead of teammate Valtteri Bottas after the Brazilian refused to yield to his Finnish teammate despite team orders to do so.

McLaren’s Danish rookie Kevin Magnussen and Toro Rosso’s Russian newcomer Daniil Kvyat rounded out the top 10 of a race that suffered just a couple of light drops of rain despite concerns about possible thunderstorms.

Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo, who was disqualified in Australia pending an appeal, missed out on points for the second race in a row after a disastrous third pit stop when he was in fourth.

The Australian pulled away before his front left wheel was fully attached with engineers sprinting down the pitlane to push him back and fix the issue.

The Australian was then given a 10-second penalty for the unsafe release but his chances of points were already over after he shredded a tyre and damaged a wing shortly before the stewards’ decision and he retired before the end.

AMMAN — Hundreds of students on Friday joined HH Princess Dana Firas in the second version of the 4.2km Amman International Marathon (kids' marathon) held at the King Hussein Park and organised by Run Jordan. The marathon was divided according to age groups and aimed at promoting sports as a lifestyle. "It was a great event for families and their children who year after year have the chance to focus on sports as a way for a better health and teach their children the benefits of sports," race director Lina Al Kurd said. The age categories included students between 6 and 8 years, 9 and 11, and 12 and 14.

AMMAN — Rami Kaghdo on Friday won the second round of the Kumho National Speed Test held with the participation of 33 drivers at the Royal Automobile Club of Jordan racetrack. Kaghdo clocked 1 minute, 35:77 seconds, leaving the second place to the winner of the first round Mohammed Tayseer, who clocked 1 minute, 36:14 seconds, while Atef Awad settled in third place with 1 minute, 37:42 seconds.

AMMAN –– The second version of the 4.2km Amman International Marathon (kids' marathon) kicks off Friday at the King Hussein Park with the participation of hundreds of students, according to organisers.

The event, organised by Run Jordan, is scheduled to be held under the patronage of HRH Prince Firas, chairman of the Board of Run Jordan. 

Lina Al Kurd, race director, said that the marathon usually receives positive reception by students.

"We are extremely happy of the reception by students and their schools to take part in the event on Friday; this shows the awareness reached by students to have a healthy life," she said.

"Our aim is to spread the culture of healthy living through sports and we believe if parents are living healthy then their children will follow too," she added.

Kurd said the organising committee has learned lessons from previous events.

 "Based on the directions of HRH Prince Firas all simple errors that accompanied the race last year will be corrected as we have studied all aspects to make this year an excellent one for marathons," she said.

Meanwhile, the main events of the 21st version of the Amman Marathon will start on
April 4.

"We are ready to host the Dead Sea Ultra
Marathon which is celebrating its 21st anniversary this year and it will have three main races 50kms, 21kms and 10kms," she said.

 "We are hoping for a big event as the marathon is accredited by the International Athletics Federation and acts as a marketing tool to Jordan's tourist sites," she added.

AMMAN — The second round of the popular speed test championship, the Kumho National Speed Test, kicks off on Friday with the participation of 38 drivers at the Royal Automobile Club of Jordan racetrack. Winners of the first round Mohammed Tayseer, Rami Kaghdo, Raed Dahshan in addition to others will take part in the event held under the patronage of HRH Prince Feisal, chairman of the Executive Motor Sports Council.

AMMAN –– HRH Prince Ali, Jordan Football Association (JFA) president, on Thursday called on officials of Jordanian football clubs and fans not to mix sports with politics and to embrace fair play. 

Prince Ali, also FIFA vice president representing Asia, expressed his disappointment at the riots during and following the Jordan Professional League match between archrivals Wihdat and Faisali on Friday. The game ended 2-0 for Wihdat. 

“It is unfortunate that our stadiums see such unsportsmanlike events that led to halting a nail-biting game between two strong teams,” the prince said in a statement e-mailed to The Jordan Times by his office. 

The JFA disciplinary committee has decided to fine both teams over JD20,000 each and imposed fines against players and officials. 

In addition to banning players from both clubs, the panel also decided to ban Wihdat president, Tariq Khouri, from attending four games and a JD1,000 fine. 

The prince stressed that fines and penalties against the teams will not be lifted due to the behaviour of supporters and officials. 

In the statement, Prince Ali said he rejects the interference of governments and other political bodies in sports, adding that JFA will continue to develop football in the Kingdom. 

He called on public and private entities to support football, the most popular game in the country, urging them to extend more support to the association in its efforts to improve the game and football infrastructure.

AMMAN — Week 14 of the 62nd Jordan Professional League kicks off on Thursday with a tough match for leaders Wihdat against Jazira while Faisali have the chance to regain the lead as they play 11th-placed Hussein Irbid.

Wihdat have now won two consecutive matches and lead with 28 points. The most anticipated match of the season saw Wihdat beat Faisali 2-0 last week.  

The Jordan Football Association (JFA) imposed heavy fines on both teams for unsportsmanlike conduct by officials, fans and players following the match.

Ramtha are still third after a 2-1 win over neighbours Hussein Irbid, and next play That Ras, who are advancing in the AFC Cup after an away 3-2 win over Tajikistan's Ravshan. 

The club, who won the Jordan Cup last year, is now sixth after holding Manshieh 1-1 while titleholders Shabab Urdun are eighth after a 2-1 win over Sheikh Hussein.

Jazira beat Arabi 1-0 last week to move to fourth. The latter will play Sarih, who jumped to the ninth spot after holding Baqaa 1-1. Baqaa next play Sheikh Hussein and Manshieh play Shabab Urdun.

The JFA competitions committee has now set the season's agenda to end May 31. 

In the 34th Jordan Cup, Round of 16 matches have concluded with eight teams reaching the quarters set for April 4 and 5 and the return leg on April 22 and 23.  

They are That Ras vs. Wihdat, and the winner will face the winner from the Hussein vs. Shabab Urdun match. In the other group, Ramtha plays Faisali and the winner will face the Baqaa vs. Sheikh Hussein match winner.

Faisali are a record 17-time winners of the Jordan Cup. Wihdat were champs nine times, Ramtha and Shabab Urdun won twice, while Jazira, Arabi and That Ras won once.

AMMAN — Jordan's U-14 girls football team plays Qatar on Friday in its first match at the second U-14 West Asian Championship, which kicks off in Amman Thursday.

The event will see Palestine play the UAE and Bahrain play Qatar on the opening day, as Jordan seeks to start off on a strong note and play for the title.

Jordan won the inaugural event in Doha last year with an unbeaten streak, beating Palestine 3-1 in the final after overcoming Bahrain and Qatar 5-0, and the UAE 10-0.

Jordan's coach Manar Freij told the Jordan Football Association website that the host team had prepared well. 

"We expect a fair, tough competition as all teams have improved. The event is a great chance for players who will eventually represent Jordan in the U-17 Women's World Cup in 2016," Freij noted.

Meanwhile, the senior women's team is hoping that friendlies against stronger Asian sides be arranged soon as the squad prepares for the Asian Football Confederation Women's 2014 Asian Cup, which will be held in Vietnam May 14-25.

Jordan so far held two training camps, one in Aqaba and the other in Japan, but the team's agenda seems to have suffered unexpected snags after it was confirmed that not all teams would be competing in the upcoming fifth West Asian Championship in Amman April 15-25.

Qatar confirmed participation this week, joining Jordan, Palestine and Bahrain. Iran as well as two-time champs and titleholders UAE have announced they would not be competing, while Lebanon requested to waive some participation fees. 

The national team is now readying to host Bayern Munich in two matches on April 3 and 5 before holding a final training camp in Malaysia ahead of the finals, where Jordan will be the first Arab team competing.

On the other hand, Jordan's Committee for the 2016 U-17 Women's World Cup is now gearing up to prepare four stadiums and 16 practice fields, as the Kingdom prepares to host a  visiting FIFA committee in May. 

AMMAN –– Jordan has been drawn in the same group of heavyweights Japan for the 2015 Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) Asian Cup to be played in Australia.

Japan won the Asian Cup in 2011 in Qatar. 

The Kingdom, put in Group D, will also play Iraq and the winner of the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup. 

The eight-team 2014 AFC Challenge Cup will be held in the Maldives in May. Countries participating in the tournament include Laos, Palestine, Myanmar, Philippines, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan and the hosts. 

Wednesday’s draw, held at the Sydney Opera House, grouped host Australia with South Korea, Oman and Kuwait in Group A.

Uzbekistan will face three-time champion Saudi Arabia, China and North Korea in an even-looking Group B.

Iran was placed with three Arab countries, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar and Bahrain in Group C. 

Commenting on Jordan's draw, head coach Hossam Hassan said the national team has landed in a tough group, with two former champions Japan and Iraq.

He told the Jordan Football Association website that all the teams that have qualified to the 2015 Asian Cup have what it takes to compete for the title, stressing that Asia's elite have reached this championship.

Tickets for the Asian Cup Australia 2015 will go on sale this year, the Australian embassy said in a statement e-mailed to The Jordan Times. 

Arab countries have won the AFC Asian Cup five times, most recently in 2007 when Iraq beat Saudi Arabia in the final. 

Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE have all qualified to the tournament.

Asian Cup is the AFC’s premier men’s competition. 

The tournament is held every four years with the first in Hong Kong in 1956. 

The Asian Cup is the largest sporting event in Asia, with close to 500 million people watching the 2011 tournament, the embassy statement said.