Inter-State Championships: Sreeshankar qualifies for World Championships, Asian Games

The 24-year-old Sreeshankar’s jump was just 1cm shy of Jeswin Aldrin’s national record of 8.42m set earlier this year.

FILE PHOTO: Long jumper Murali Sreeshankar in action. | Photo Credit: PTI

In sweltering heat, Commonwealth Games silver medallist long jumper M.Sreeshankar excelled at his favourite venue to achieve his personal best, 8.41m, and qualify for the World championships in the National inter-state athletics championships at the Kalinga Stadium here on Sunday.

In the qualifying round, 24-year-old Sreeshankar notched up a fine effort in his opening attempt and left the Hangzhou Asian Games mark behind. He narrowly missed Jeswin Aldrin’s National record (8.42m), but erased his own 2022 meet record (8.23m).

Five years ago, Sreeshankar had overcome a heat stroke to cross the 8m mark for the first time in the National Open meet at the same venue and had gone on to rewrite the National record by achieving 8.20m.

With his father and coach Murali S. in attendance, Sreeshankar – who missed the 2018 Asian Games due to an appendicitis operation – executed a smooth take-off and ensured a big jump. He recorded an 8m-plus jump for the third time this season and a world leading performance behind Jeswin.

Murali said that Sreeshankar’s performance was the result of a well-planned strategy, including a change in diet plan. “We reached Kerala (from Europe) on June 11 in order to acclimatize. We are staying in the same hotel here. The plan is to peak at the right time,” said Murali, accompanying Sreeshankar to a ‘voluntary’ dope test before the final.

Jeswin (7.83m) and Muhammed Anees (7.71m) were outside the Asian Games cut-off mark.

Ancy Sojan posted her best first-attempt jump, 6.49m, to qualify for the Hangzhou Games in women’s long jump. Nayana James (6.31m) and Shaili Singh (6.27m) were among the leading jumpers.

Kishore Jena (79.96m), Shivpal Singh (79.35m) and Anuj Kalera (79.04m) attained the men’s javelin qualification mark. Rohit Yadav (76.32m) and D.P. Manu (76.21m) had to wait.

Ajay Kumar Saroj (3:44.13) led a pack of four athletes to breach the Asiad cut off time.

R.Vithya Ramraj (57.23) staked her claim for a ticket to Hangzhou in women’s 200m.

Amlan Borgohain (21.37) was the fastest male in 200m heats. Tajinderpal Singh Toor did 18.91m in shot put.

The results (Qualified for Asian Games):

Men: 1500m (World championships qualifying mark: 3:34.20, Asian Games qualifying mark: 3:47.84): 1. Ajay Kumar Saroj (UP) 3:44.13, 2. Yoonus Shah (UP) 3:44.22, 3. Sachelal Patel (Utk) 3:44.33, 4. Rahul Baloda (Raj) 3:46.73; Long jump (WC QM: 8.25m, AG QM: 7.95m): 1. M. Sreeshankar (Ker) 8.41m (NMR, Old 8.23m, Sreeshankar, 2022); Javelin (WC QM: 85.20, AG QM: 78.23): 1. Kishore Jena (Odi) 79.96m, 2. Shivpal Singh (UP) 79.35m, 3. Anuj Kalera (Raj) 79.04m. 

Women: 400mH (WC QM: 54.90, AG QM: 57.48): 1. R.Vithya Ramraj (TN) 57.23; Long jump (WC QM: 6.85m, AG QM: 6.45m): 1. Ancy Sojan (Ker) 6.49m.