AL KASBEH BOOKS OLYMPIC SPOT

Boxer Obadah Al Kasbeh has become the latest Jordanian to book a place at this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The 64kg fighter performed magnificently at the recent World Olympic qualifiers, losing in the quarter finals to Gary Russell. But the American then withdrew from his semi-final bout due to injury, however getting to the last four was enough for Russell to qualify. Boxing’s ruling body AIBA have now decided to give Al Kasbeh one of their spare spots due to his performances in Azerbaijan. It takes the number of Jordanians guaranteed for Rio to five with his fellow boxer Hussein Ishaiash, triathlete Lawrence Fanous, judo’s Ibrahim Khalaf and taekwondo’s Ahmad Abu Ghaush already on the plane. Swimmer Khader Baqleh is also virtually guaranteed a spot but is awaiting his final confirmation from FINA, swimming’s governing body.