DOUBLE GOLDEN START FOR JORDAN IN BAKU

 Jordan has enjoyed a golden start to the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games in Baku.

Olympic swimmer Khader Baqlah sliced more than three seconds off the national record on his way to winning Jordan's first gold in the pool.

The University of Florida student won the 400m freestyle in 3:55:37 minutes followed by Indonesia’s Aflah Prawira who was just one hundredth of a second behind.

After his win, Baqleh dedicated his gold to the Jordanian people and his long serving coach Dr. Ali Al Nawaiseh.

Just an hour later, karate star Bashar Al Najjar added a second gold for Jordan with a 2-0 win in the 67kg final over Algeria’s Abdelatif Benkhaled.

In reaching the final, Al Najjar beating Saudi Arabia’s Fahed Al Qattami, Syria’s Mohammad Darweesh, and Egypt’s Ali Al Sawi.

Elsewhere on Day One, swimmer Lydia Musleh finished a credible fifth in the 200m female Medley in a time of 2:29:85 minutes.

Her teammate Omar Alor missed out on the final of the 50m breast after finishing eighth in the semi-final in a time of 31:15 seconds.

In Judo, Majedah Al Bashayrehmissed out on the bronze media to Indonesia’s Sanistyarani Cok in the female 55kg. Majedah had earlier beaten Algerian Saida Dejedra and Pakistan’s Naz Gul.

Younis Jraid lost in the quarter-final of the men’s 73kg following his defeat to Azerbaijan’s Rustam Orujov. Earlier he had beaten Saudi Arabia’s Abdulaziz Al Bashi.

Ayah Kitaneh lost to Morocco’s Wafae Edressi in the -48kg category.

Meanwhile, Hadil Al Alami lost in the 55kg female category to the host nation’s Shenkhlto Monkseve. On Sunday, Olympian Ibrahim Khalaf will launch his campaign in Baku in the judo 90kg, meeting Guyana’s Earskine Trotman, while Baker Ezzeldien will face Syria’s Mohammad Kazim.

Saleh Es’efan will meet Kyrgyzstan’s Valdimir Zoloev in the same weight category.

In Karate, Hatim Al Dweek lost in the men’s -75kg first round to Saudi Arabia’s Sultan Al Zahrani, while his teammate Mohammad Fahed lost in the quarter-finals to Turkey’s Aykut Kaya.

Fahed had earlier beaten Algeria’s Abdelkarim Bouamira.

Also in karate, Razan Al De’aja lost narrowly in the 50kg category to Azerbaijan’s Nurana Aliyeva.

Huda Jaber lost in the 61kg to Uzbekistan’s Barno Mirzaeva 3-1.

Both Hamzeh Aweis and Qamar Al Kurdi (in the female) will compete Sunday in Kata competitions, while Mohammad Al Sajjan will compete in the 84kg, Hala Tarbash in the 68kg and Ayat Fetian in +68kg category.

In boxing, Abdullah Al Draghmeh lost his -49kg opener to Iraq’s Hasan Nasser 4-1.

Tomorrow, Ihab Matbouli will fight Syria’s Ala’eldien Gadoun in the quarter-final of the 90kg, while his teammate Ziad Ishaish will fight Turkey’s Under Sebal in the 69kg category.

TAEKWONDO AND PARALYMPIC TEAMS ARRIVE AT ATHLETE VILLAGE

The Taekwondo and Paralympic delegations have joined Team Jordan in the Athletes Village.

The taekwondo teams are being coached by the experienced Mohammad Al Bakheet (men) and Mohammad Abu Libbdeh (Women). Athletes (Men): Mo’tasim Abu Zaid (-54kg), Muath Al Qatawneh (-58kg), Mohammad Asfour (-63kg), Majd Asfour (-68kg), Anas Adarbeh (-74kg) and Hamzeh Qattan (-87kg). Women: Eman Adayleh (-46kg), Bana Daraghmeh (-49kg), Taleen Al Humaidi (-53kg), Juliana Al Sadeq (-57kg), Shahed Al Tourman (-62kg), Rawnd Suhail (-67kg), Tayma’ Habawal (-73kg) and Wa’ed Al Tourman (+73kg).

Paralympic star Amer Al Abbadi, coached by Ahmad Adam, will take part in Discus Class 57 on Wednesday.