Longer Jump Victory Claimed by Murali Sreeshankar at Qosanov Memorial Athletics Competition in Kazakhstan
India's Murali Sreeshankar Falls Short of Qualifying for Tokyo World Championships
Murali Sreeshankar, the Indian long jumper, is still striving to secure a spot at the Tokyo World Championships 2025, having not yet met the qualification standard of 8.27 meters. Despite impressive performances in recent competitions, Sreeshankar's best jump this season remains at 7.94 meters, achieved at the Qosanov Memorial in August.
Sreeshankar's most recent victory came at the Indian Open in Pune, where he leaped 8.05 meters, marking his best performance since returning from a knee injury. However, this jump still falls short of the qualification mark. His second-best performance since his return was a 7.75-meter leap at the Meeting Maia Cidade do Desporto in Portugal.
The long jumper has been competing across Europe and Central Asia until August 14, aiming to meet the qualification standard for the World Championships in Tokyo this September. His participation in international events has been limited since his last appearance at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China in 2023, where he won a silver medal.
Sreeshankar's injury woes began in April last year, sidelining him from the 2024 Olympics. Despite qualifying for the event, he was unable to participate due to his recovery. He underwent surgery and has been gradually making his way back into competitive form.
His return to the competition scene started with the Meeting Maia Cidade do Desporto, where he topped the podium with a 7.75-meter effort. This was followed by his third competition, the Indian Open in Pune, where he won with a jump of 8.05 meters. However, since then, Sreeshankar has not participated in any competition.
The Qosanov Memorial Athletics Meet, where Sreeshankar won his third straight title, was a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze label (category C) meet. His winning leap at the Indian Open was 7.94 meters on his opening attempt, while his jump at the Meeting Maia Cidade do Desporto was his second-best performance since his return from injury.
Sreeshankar's personal best remains at 8.41 meters, a distance he achieved before his injury. As the Tokyo World Championships approach, Sreeshankar continues to work towards meeting the qualification standard and securing a place on the Indian athletics team.
Sreeshankar's pursuit of the Tokyo World Championships continues, as his best jump this season of 7.94 meters falls short of the qualification standard of 8.27 meters. Maintaining an active focus on his health and sports performance, Sreeshankar aims to improve his jumps and secure a spot at the championships, ensuring the continuance of his athletics career.
