Harpal Singh Bedi
New Delhi, 18 June: Murali Sreeshankar qualified for the World Athletics Championships in the long jump event with a massive 8.41m leap at the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships at the Kalinga Stadium ,Bhubaneswar, on Sunday.
The 24-year-old Murali achieved his personal best on his first attempt during the heats .He fell short of Jeswin’s Aldrin’snational record by 0.01m but easily breached the world championships qualifying mark of 8.25m. Murali had also crossed the 8.25m mark in athletics meet in California, USA last month with an 8.29m effort but since his jump waswind-assisted, it did not help him make the cut for the world championships.
Last week, Murali registered an impressive 8.09m long jump to claim the third spot at the Paris Diamond League 2023.
Before that, Murali won a World Athletics Continental Tour bronze label event in Kallithea, Greece with 8.18m and made thecut for the upcoming Asian Games in China. Murali is expected to join Neeraj Chopra at the Lausanne Diamond League on June 30.
Jeswin Aldrin managed a 7.83m long jump during the heats . He has already qualified for the world championships with his goldmedal-winning 8.26m leap at the National Games last year.
Overall, 12 of the 20 listed competitors in the men’s long jump qualified for the long jump final, which will be held on Monday.
The women’s long jump saw the 2022 national champion Ancy Sojan top the heats with an effort of 6.49m. Asian championships bronzemedalist Nayana James came second with 6.31m followed by promising 19-year-old Shaili Singh, who hit the 6.27m mark.
The long jump finals along with other remaining summit clashes in the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships 2023 willbe held on Monday.