Murali Sreeshankar’s silver was the best among Indian male long jumpers in the Commonwealth Games
Murali Sreeshankar’s silver was the best among Indian male long jumpers in the Commonwealth Games
Murali Sreeshankar clinched a silver in men’s long jump to give India its second medal in athletics at the Commonwealth Games on Thursday.
The 23-year-old Indian soared to 8.08m in his fifth attempt to finish second behind Laquan Nairn of Bahamas in a nerve-wrecking men’s long jump final.
Nairn also had a best jump of 8.08m but his second best of 7.98m was better than 7.84m of Sreeshankar.
Under rules, if two jumpers are tied on same distance, the one who has a better second best effort will be ranked ahead.
Jovan van Vuuren (8.06m) of South Africa took the bronze.
The other Indian in the fray, Muhammed Anees Yahiya ended at fifth with a best jump of 7.97m.
Sreeshankar’s silver was the best among Indian male long jumpers in the CWG. Suresh Babu had won a bronze in the 1978 edition.
Among women, Prajusha Maliakkal won a silver in the 2010 edition in Delhi, while legendary Anju Bobby George bagged a bronze in 2002.
On Wednesday, Tejaswin Shankar had won a bronze in men’s high jump to open India’s medal account in athletics in this CWG.