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This comes after two trials and days of suspense; India has three long jumpers at Worlds for the first time
This comes after two trials and days of suspense; India has three long jumpers at Worlds for the first time
After two trials and days of suspense, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has finally cleared long jumper Jeswin Aldrin for the World Championships starting on July 15 in Oregon, USA.
In a release on Sunday night, the AFI, in consultation with the Federation and Selection Committee members, decided to induct Aldrin.
“We decided to give him a chance to compete in the World Championship after he jumped 7.99 meters in the first trial (in Thiruvananthapuram) and 7.93 meters in Patiala,” AFI president Adille Sumariwalla said.
Aldrin cleared the world athletics entry standard (8.22m) at the Federation Cup in April with 8.26m and shocked national record holder M. Sreesankar by winning gold (air-assisted 8.37m) in that event, but the AFI held its main event at the Worlds at the recent Inter-State Nationals in Chennai. He wanted to be close to that in the qualifier.
The 20-year-old, ranked seventh in the world this year, finished sixth in Chennai with 7.71 (qualifying round) and 7.51 (final).
He was later offered two trials in Thiruvananthapuram and Patia, but the AFI made it clear that he had to achieve a target of 8.10m to go to Oregon.
The federation has now changed its mind.
The men’s long jump qualification round will be held in the evening session on July 15, the opening day of the World Championships.
Now with Aldrin’s induction, India will have three long jumpers at Worlds for the first time.
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