by Ian Marshall
Amman is one of the safest cities in the world; walk late at night and whether male or female, you feel perfectly secure.
Equally, the city is not too far distant from some of the most iconic places in the world, a drive of less than 40 minutes and you behold the extensive Roman remains in Jerash. Drive a similar distance and the Dead Sea, the lowest point on planet earth, is reached.
The lowest point but commencing with the six day Arab Championships on Tuesday 10th August and then the seven day Arab Club Championships on Tuesday 17th August; Amman and Jordan ascended to new heights.
Under the direction of Khalil Al-Mohannadi, the President of the Arab Table Tennis Association and Mohamed Abduallah, Secretary General alongside Tarek Al-Zouaby, President of the Jordan Table Tennis Association, a new standard was set.
Space for more but erect four tables in the gymnasium at the Ahliyya Amman University and you could host the table tennis events at an Olympic Games.
Immediately my mind flashed back to the Peking University Gymnasium, purpose built for the table tennis events at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games; one absolutely crucial factor present on that occasion was the air conditioning, never was there a complaint from a player that the ball wavered when thrown on a high toss serve.
Perhaps the standard of play in Amman was not quite that of Ma Lin and Zhang Yining, the respective men’s and women’s singles gold medallists now well over a decade ago but make no mistake, in the men’s singles final Egypt’s Mohamed Shouman and the host nation’s Zaid Abo Yaman gave a splendid display, counter-top spin rallies of high order.
High summer, outside the temperatures in the late 30s inside the hall perfection; the air conditioning providing a pleasant atmosphere for spectators in short sleeved polo shirts as well as for players striving every sinew in search of gold. Not one complaint was heard; on the service the ball went straight up and came straight down!
A court mat to cover, a sprung wooden floor, somewhat unusual in these days and without doubt the most expensive of all; add the fact that hall was dressed in splendid colours, the tournament’s name and sponsors decoratively promoted, all added to a splendid setting.
Furthermore, inadvertently did that not motivate the players to raise their level, provide a state of the art setting and they climb a step higher?
Standards elevated; standards elevated in more ways than one way. Jordan may possess the lowest point on planet earth by at Ahliyya Amman University, a mountain was climbed, graduation with honours.