by Ian Marshall
At the Arab Championships in the state-of-the-art facilities provided by the Al Ahliyya Amman University, the now 21 year old prevailed in the vital third contest in men’s team final against Egypt.
Maintaining focus, keeping mind, body and soul together, he put Jordan on the road to victory.
After Zaid Abo Yaman had beaten Ahmed Nadim (12-10, 14-12, 11-13, 14-12) and Zayed Aldmaisy had lost to Mohamed Shouman (11-3, 13-11, 11-2); matters level, Khaled Khader withstood a spirited recovery by Mumen Al Awez to secure a dramatic five games win (11-6, 11-8, 5-11, 7-11, 13-11).
He brought national team colleagues and coaches in the stands to their feet. Chants of “Khaled, Khaled, Khaled” rang around the auditorium.
Mohamed Shouman, who memorably at the 2011 ITTF World Junior Circuit Finals staged in January 2012 in Puerto Rico had come so close in his semi-final duel against Chinese Taipei’s Hung Hzu-Hsiang, losing a classic encounter (4-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-4, 11-13, 7-11, 14-12), returned to the fray. He beat Zaid Abo Yaman (7-11, 13-11, 11-5, 11-4), to set the scene for Zayed Aldmaisy and Mumen Al Awez to decide the outcome.
Zayed Aldmaisy prevailed in four games (11-5, 11-6, 4-11, 11-7); Jordan celebrated.
Success for Jordan and very much a family affair; Taimma Abo Yaman and Yara Aldmaisy enjoyed success in the women’s team event.
Joining forces with Bara’a Al-Wedyan and Dana Al-Khateeb, in a group organised event, they finished ahead of Kuwait, who selected from Muna Al-Shammary, Maryam Abdulraheem, Shaika Al-Hamad, Shahd Al-Enazy and Fatima Abdulhussein.
Men’s Team
Winners: Jordan (Zaid Abo Yaman, Zayed Aldmaisy, Khaled Khader)
Runners Up: Egypt (Mumen Al Awez, Ahmed Nadim, Mohamed Shouman)
Women’s Team
Winners: Jordan (Yara Aldmaisy, Bara’a Al-Wedyan and Dana Al-Khateeb, Taimma Yaman and)
Runners Up: Egypt (Fatima Abdulhussein, Maryam Abdulraheem, Shahd Al-Enazy, Shaika Al-Hamad, Muna Al-Shammary)
Under 19 Boys’ Team
Winners: Iraq (Ameer Al-Nouamy, Giath Al-Fatlawy, Anwar Hameed, Abas Naser)
Runners Up: Egypt (Marwan Jamal, Kareem Subhy, Mohamed Waleed)
Under 19 Girls’ Team
Winners: Egypt (Rua Al Nagy, Farida Badawy and Alaa Yahia)
Runners Up: Bahrain (Fatima Al-Ali, Maryam Al Ali and Amrita Ameet)
Under 15 Boys’ Team
Winners: Egypt (Yaseen Wael, Bader Mustafa, Omsar Ihab)
Runners Up: Qatar (Khaled Al Yafeei, Yousef Mohamed, Obad Abdullah)
Under 15 Girls’ Team
Winners: Syria (Hend Zaza, Anata Kurdiya, Naya Suliman)
Runners Up: Egypt Maryam Younis, Kenzi Fawzy, Nour Al Khaowly, Habiba Al Basoumy)
Under 13 Boys’ Team
Winners: Qatar (Sultan Al-Kawari, Rawad Al Naser, Ahmed Karny, Yousef Abdultaker and Mohamed Al Sality)
Runners Up: Tunisia (Waseem Al Said, Yousef Al Aydaly, Yousef Kerfal, Ameer Al Said)
Under 13 Girls’ Team
Winners: Egypt (Madeeha Al Mallah, Malak Kadry, Habiba Al Basumy)
Runners Up: Syria (Hend Zaza, Sham Al Asad, Sulaf Mahmoud, July Daiub, Ebaa Hallak)
Under 11 Boys’ Team
Winners: Qatar (Muhamed Al-Sality, Abdul Azeez Al Abdullah, Hamad Al Sality, Rabee Al-Kawary and Issa Al Haded)
Runners Up: Tunisia (Tunisia’s Ameer Al Said, Ahmad Al-Saiedy)
Play now commences in the individual events, matters conclude on Monday 16th August.