King, Queen honour Rio team, Tawjihi top achievers

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday expressed pride in the Jordanian team that participated in the Rio Olympic Games 2016, in which the Kingdom won a gold medal, according to a Royal Court statement. 

The King made his remarks as he and Her Majesty Queen Rania received the Jordan Olympic team at Al Husseiniya Palace, where he stressed that Jordan's participation in the games is an important step to achieve more in the future, praising the win by taekwondo Olympic gold medallist Ahmad Abu Ghaush.

The meeting was attended by Their Royal Highnesses Prince Hassan, president of the Higher Council for Self-Defence Sports, Prince Feisal, president of the Jordan Olympic Committee, and Prince Rashid, president of the Jordanian Taekwondo Federation.

His Majesty awarded Abu Ghaush the Order of King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein for Excellence of the First Class, for winning the gold medal in taekwondo, as well as the champion’s coach Fares Assaf for his contribution.

Abu Ghaush won Jordan’s first ever medal in the Olympic Games on August 18 in the -68kg category after defeating the Egyptian, South Korean, Spanish and Russian champions.

He also awarded Chang Win Pin, the coach of the national taekwondo team, the King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein gold medal.

For their part, the team members expressed their appreciation for His Majesty’s support, which, they said, motivates them to achieve more in the field of sports.

Also on Tuesday, Their Majesties King Abdullah and Queen Rania received top achievers in the General Secondary Education Certificate Examination, Tawjihi, at Al Husseiniya Palace, the Royal Court said. 

During the meeting, the King voiced his pride in the advanced level of the students, who came top in various academic streams.

The King and the Queen chatted with the students who shared with Their Majesties their academic aspirations.

The high school graduates and their accompanying family members thanked the King and the Queen for the gesture.

The students, who were presented with awards at the gathering, said their meeting with the King and the Queen motivated them to work harder and achieve further academic excellence.

The meeting was attended by Royal Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh, Deputy Prime Minister for Services and Education Minister Mohammad Thneibat, King’s Office Director Jafar Hassan and Royal Court Secretary General Yousef Issawi.

Student Yousef Sowari, who ranked the first in the Tawjihi scientific branch with a 98.4 score, told Petra that he was very happy to receive the Royal recognition, noting that he was inspired to achieve more in the future. 

Reem Banat, who came top in the literary branch, scoring a 99 average, thanked Their Majesties, noting that her achievement required proper schooling and organising of her time to study under a set schedule.