INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT SHOWS JORDAN’S PROGRESS

The 3rd Jordan Junior and Cadet Open Championship is a chance for the Kingdom to show it is capable of hosting major international sporting events, according to one of its lead organisers.

The event got underway at the Princess Sumaya Hall in Al Hussein Youth City and has welcomed over 120 players from India, Chinese Taipei, UAE, Thailand, Sweden, Palestine, Qatar, Iraq, Egypt, Iran, Algeria, Canada and Panama.

While Day One didn’t go as Jordan’s players would have hoped, with Yahyia Al Lazim, Khalid Khader and Hassan Al Hurani all losing first round matches, the importance of hosting such an event has been highlighted by Jordan Table Tennis Federation President Fawaz Al Sharabi.

“Hosting events like this proves how much we are developed here in Jordan, and the international body for our sport is satisfied with the work we have done,” he said.

“We will continue to host this annual event and make it bigger with each year.

This time we have hosted more players and countries than last year and we will look at expanding it further for 2018.”

The competition will continue today (Wednesday) with the mini-cadet age category.