Bangkok, Thailand: Murali Sresshankar, an exceptional Indian long jumper, soared to new heights at the Asian Athletics Championships 2023, capturing the silver medal in the men’s long jump event. With his impressive performance, Sresshankar not only added a medal to India’s tally but also secured qualification for the highly anticipated Paris 2024 Olympics.
The men’s long jump competition witnessed an intense battle between Sresshankar and Chinese Taipei’s Yu Tang-Lin from the very beginning. Both athletes set the tone with identical 8.10-metre efforts in their opening jumps. Sresshankar took the lead with an 8.12-metre jump on his third attempt. However, it was Yu Tang-Lin, the reigning Asian Indoor long jump champion, who emerged victorious with a monumental 8.40-metre leap, setting a new championship record.
Sresshankar’s final attempt of 8.37m fell just short of gold but exceeded the entry standard of 8.27m for the Paris 2024 Olympics. His outstanding performance showcased his tremendous potential and marked him as a strong contender in the international long jump arena.
The men’s high jump event witnessed another remarkable display of athleticism by Indian athlete Anil Sarvesh Kushare. With a clearance of 2.26m, Kushare clinched the silver medal, narrowly missing his personal best of 2.28m. The gold went to the Republic of Korea’s Woo Sang-hyeok, who cleared 2.28m. Despite falling short of the top spot, Kushare’s silver medal solidifies his position as one of India’s prominent high jumpers.
In the women’s-only heptathlon event, India’s Swapna Barman showcased her versatility and determination. As the reigning Asian Games heptathlon champion, Barman was eager to add gold to her collection. However, she had to settle for the silver medal this time, accumulating 5,840 points across the six events. Uzbekistan’s Ekaterina Voronina claimed the gold with 6,098 points, while Japan’s Yuki Yamasaki secured the bronze with 5,696 points. Despite the second-place finish, Barman’s performance highlighted her exceptional skills and resilience.
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