Shortlists have been compiled in three categories, with combat sports providing the bulk of the contenders, with the impressive number of votes registered on the JOC's Facebook page and website.

Karate player Abdel Rahman Al Masatfeh and boxer Odai Al Hindawi are each nominated for "Best Sportsman" after each bagging silver medals at last autumn's Asian Games in Incheon.

Muay Thai fighter Mohammad Salameh completes the trio of candidates after he followed victory at the Arab Championships with bronze at November's Asian Beach Games in Phuket.

Incheon 2014 bronze medal winning boxer Obadah Al Kisbeh is selected in the "Best Young Achiever - Male" category, along with taekwondo players Hamzeh Qattan, a world youth silver medallist and Zaid Al Halawani, a world junior champion.

Two taekwondo players and a boxer are the three contenders for the Best Young Achiever Award at the JOC Black Iris Awards ©JOC



World champion powerlifter Moutaz Al Juniadi is nominated in the Paralympic category, meanwhile, along with table tennis player Khetam Abu Awad and Asian Para Games powerlifting winner, Abdel Kareem Khattab.

The two other award recipients have been decided already, with Rana Qubbaj's taking "Best Sportwoman" after winning gold in the World Jujitsu Masters and Eman Al Adayleh earning "Best Young Sports Achiever - Female" after competing in taekwondo at last year's Summer Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing.

"Created in 2006, the Black Iris Sports Awards are Jordan's sporting Oscars - recognising the immense sporting talent that we have in Jordan," said JOC secretary general Lana Al Jaghbeer.

"The Awards provide an excellent opportunity for our passionate community of fans in Jordan and around the world to honour our athletes and recognise their hard work.

"Sport has the power to bring a sense of national pride and belonging and the Black Iris Sports Awards are a welcome source of national celebration.

"We look forward to what will be a fantastic event."

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