Tokyo, Japan, July 26, 2021: Jordan won its first medal at the Tokyo Olympics with Saleh El-Sharabaty earning the silver medal in taekwondo in the men’s 80kg at the Makuhari Messe convention centre on Monday, July 26.
El-Sharabaty, 22, had to settle for the silver after two-time European champion Maksim Khramtcov of the Russian Olympic Committee put in an exceptional performance, winning with an apparent broken arm.
El-Sharabaty’s silver medal was the second medal in Jordan’s Olympic history. The youngster, who had been inspired to take up a martial art after watching movies of Jackie Chan, was hoping to emulate Ahmad Abughaush, who won Jordan’s first-ever medal – a gold – at the Rio 2016 Olympics in taekwondo.
That landmark moment has ignited popular interest in the sport across the Kingdom.
His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Hussein, International Olympic Committee Executive Board Member and President of the Jordan Olympic Committee, presented the silver medal to El-Sharabaty.
