Swimmers confirm Olympic spots

AMMAN — Brother and sister Khader and Talita Baqleh have both confirmed their places in Team Jordan for next month’s Olympic Games taking place in Rio de Janeiro, according to the Jordan Olympic Committee (JOC) News Service.

The official confirmation was received by the JOC from swimming’s governing body FINA and both have gone immediately into an Amman-based training camp to prepare.

Khader, 17, has been in exceptional form over the past two years, and will be the first Jordanian swimmer to compete at an Olympics with a qualifying B time for the 200m.

Talita, 20, will be another history maker, becoming the first Jordanian swimmer to compete at two Olympics having taken part in London four years ago.

“I am really happy to have been included,” she told the news service. “I am looking forward to competing and hope to set a new Jordan record for the 50m freestyle and to improve my world ranking.”

Khader has already enjoyed two training camps in Austria, arranged with JOC partner Backaldrin, which have helped him shave vital seconds of his times.

“I am going to do my best for Jordan and hopefully improve my world ranking with faster times in Rio de Janeiro,” he told the news service.

The JOC is putting the finishing touches to their Rio plans and expect to confirm their full team line-up soon.

Already confirmed alongside the two swimmers are taekwondo ace Ahmad Abu Ghaush, boxers Hussein Ishaiash and Obada Al Kasbah, judo player Ibrahim Khalaf and triathlete Lawrence Fanous.

The team chef de mission is three-time Olympic taekwondo fighter Nadin Dawani.

The Olympic Games get under way in Brazil on August 5.