• Individual efforts and future gains

The Jordan national jiu-jitsu team concluded its participation in the Youth Asian Games, hosted in the Bahraini capital, Manama

Although the results did not yield any medals at this important continental event, the Jordanian participation highlighted the efforts of young athletes facing high-level competition from some of Asia’s top champions

Competitions held on Thursday saw four Jordanian athletes competing across different rounds, aiming to raise the national flag

Hamza Haswa: standout performance and near-bronze finish

In the under-48 kg category, the strongest performance of the Jordanian team came from young athlete Hamza Haswa

Haswa began his campaign with an important victory in the round of 16, defeating Kyrgyz athlete Rahimovptch Khimenov

This win gave a significant morale boost to the team, showcasing the competitiveness of Jordanian athletes in lighter weight classes

However, Haswa faced a major challenge in the quarterfinals against Kazakh athlete Lylas Beltgazi, who demonstrated high skill and managed to end the match in his favor, stopping Haswa’s run toward the semifinals

After exiting the quarterfinals, Haswa competed for the bronze medal in the repechage round

In this decisive match, his final chance to reach the podium, Haswa lost to Vietnamese athlete Long Manh

Despite not winning a medal, reaching this advanced stage and coming close to bronze represents a positive indicator of Haswa’s individual potential and highlights the need for further support and experience in future tournaments

Early losses for other athletes and challenges of the Asian level

Other Jordanian athletes faced tough competition in the early rounds

Omar competed in the under-69 kg category, starting in the round of 32, where he lost to Filipino athlete Mapalo Emmanuel and exited the tournament

This early defeat emphasizes the need to develop the technical and tactical skills of athletes to enable them to advance further

On the female side, athletes Maya Ishaqat and Simaza Khat competed with fighting spirit in their weight categories

Maya Ishaqat, in the under-63 kg category, faced Kazakh athlete Rahimzanova Laila in the round of 16 and lost, exiting the competition

In the under-57 kg category, Simaza Khat also lost in the round of 16 against Tajik athlete Friza Qasimova

Overall results show that Jordanian athletes have the basic capabilities to compete but face difficulties maintaining consistency against established Asian training schools, particularly from East and Central Asia, which have advanced training programs and high-level professional preparation

Future aspirations and lessons learned

The Youth Asian Games serve as an important platform for gaining experience and international exposure for promising athletes

Although the participation ended without medals, the experience provided practical lessons for the national team, highlighting strengths and weaknesses to address in future stages

Long-term strategic planning and focus on preparing athletes mentally and physically for the pressures of knockout-format competitions will be essential for success in continental and international tournaments

Hamza Haswa’s progress to the bronze medal repechage remains a bright spot, serving as proof of talent that deserves intensive care and attention to reach the podium in future competitions