BOXING MEDALS FOR JORDAN

Jordan’s boxers secured some timely medals as they bid to step up their preparation for Olympic qualification.

At the Kulibayev International Championships held in Kazakhstan, 2012 Olympian Ihab Darweesh secured bronze in the heavyweight division, losing in the semi-final to Chyngyz Borbashev from Kyrgyzstan in a battle that was called the ‘fight of the day’.

But young teammate Hussein Oshaish went one better, winning silver in the super heavyweight division by beating Igor Shevadzutskiy of Ukraine in a tight semi-final. He then lost to Mirzohidjon Abdullayev of Uzbekistan in the final.

Meanwhile, the boxing team has recruited experienced Algerian coach Izzaldein Aqoun to support their bid for Olympic qualification. Aqoun has a strong track record in preparing boxers for the world’s top tournaments and will work closely with several of the Jordanian fighters who are in the a chance of making Rio 2016.