BASKETBALLERS OPEN ASIAD CAMPAIGN AGAINST CHINESE TAIPEI

Jordan will tomorrow (Thursday 7am) take on Chinese Taipei to launch their participation in the 20th Asian Games, hosted by the Japanese city of Nagoya.

The Group B match at the Aichi Arena will provide a stiff test for The Falcons who will be looking for a strong start in order to qualify for the quarter-finals.

The national team arrived in Nagoya last Sunday evening from The Philippines capital, Manila, conducting training over the past three days under Spanish head coach, Luis Guil Torres.

Jordan’s squad invludes Fadi Ibrahim, Ahmad Al-Dwairi, Mohammad Shaher, Ahmad Al-Hamarsheh, Rouhi Al-Kilani, Amin Abu Hawwas, Dar Tucker, Perrine Buford, Yousuf Abu Wazaneh, Malek Kanaan, Yazan Al-Taweel and Abdullah Olajuwon.

Qatar will be next on Saturday at 7am Jordan time, before they conclude the group stage matches against Iran on Sunday at 4am Amman time.

A total of 12 national teams are participating in the men’s basketball competition, divided into three groups: Group A features Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia, while Group C includes China, The Philippines, Bahrain and Kazakhstan.

Jordan won silver at the previous edition of the Asian Games, held in the Chinese city of Hangzhou, becoming the first Jordanian team sport to reach the podium in the Kingdom’s history at the Games.