Indian long jumper Murali Sreeshankar has made a strategic decision to withdraw from the highly anticipated Diamond League Final 2023, scheduled to take place on September 16 and 17 in Eugene, USA. Instead, he has chosen to channel his efforts and preparations towards the upcoming Asian Games 2023, as reported by the Sportstar website.
Murali Sreeshankar made history by becoming the first Indian long jumper to qualify for the prestigious Diamond League final following his commendable fifth-place finish in the Zurich leg earlier this month. Alongside Sreeshankar, javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra and steeplechaser Avinash Sable have also secured their spots in the Eugene finals.
In the lead-up to his qualification for the Diamond League final, Murali Sreeshankar showcased his prowess by finishing third and fifth in the Paris and Lausanne legs, respectively. His exceptional personal best long jump of 8.41 metres has solidified his reputation as one of India’s most promising athletes.
Qualifying points for the Diamond League final are awarded based on an athlete’s performance and finishing position in each leg of the competition. The top six athletes with the highest cumulative points across all legs earn the privilege of competing in the season-ending finals.
The long jump event at the Diamond League Final 2023 is slated for September 17, just a mere 12 days before the commencement of the men’s long jump qualifying round at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. Given this tight scheduling window, Murali Sreeshankar has made the prudent decision to prioritise his preparations and participation in the Asian Games, a prestigious international event.
Murali Sreeshankar’s impressive track record includes winning a gold medal at the third Indian Grand Prix in March. He also secured the top position on the podium at the World Athletics Continental Tour bronze label event in Kallithea, Greece, as well as at the MVA High-Performance Athletics meet in the USA in May.
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