Baqlah smashes Jordan record

AMMAN — Jordan’s young Olympic sensation Khader Baqlah smashed his national record for the 200m Freestyle on Monday at the FINA World Swimming Championships taking place in Budapest, according to the Jordan Olympic Committee News Service. 

A day after setting a new Jordan best in the 400m, the 18-year-old finished second in his 200m heat in a time of one minute 47.68 seconds, smashing his previous best of 1:48.42 set at the Rio Olympics last summer.

The time placed him 19th overall, just outside the 16 swimmers who advanced to the semi-finals, but it shows once again that he is closing the gap on the world’s best. Jordan’s participation in Budapest will continue Tuesday with Dara Al Bakri competing in the women’s 200m freestyle.