Murali Sreeshankar aims higher after silver and Olympic slot.

Murali Sreeshankar aims higher after silver and Olympic slot. He won silver in Bangkok’s hot and humid Asian Athletics Championships on Saturday.

By NewsOnRadar Bureau Last updated Jul 16, 2024

CHENNAI: There was nothing lacking in his approach, training and attitude. Yet he was not able to cross that 8.36m, his previous personal best before 8.41m this year, at international competitions. It was more mental than physical, perhaps. He came close last year in Greece when he managed 8.31m but somehow he was not able to go beyond his best effort.

The story can change this time though. The way Murali Sreeshankar celebrated with clenched fists and a loud yell showed how relieved he was. Always under pressure to perform abroad, this effort would definitely help him soothe those nerves. And the most heartening thing for him and his father and coach Murali is that he qualified for the Paris Olympics next year (qualifying mark is 8.27m and the cycle started on July 1).

On Saturday, hot and humid conditions did not deter him from clearing that distance for silver at the Asian Athletics Championships in Bangkok. The colour of the medal is not something that is bothering him. He is happy with the distance, the furthest any Indian long-jumper has managed on foreign soil. “It gives confidence when you jump such a distance,” he said during an interaction.

“My body is more used to hot and humid climate. It could be because I was born and brought up in Palakkad, where the conditions are similar to Bangkok.” From his formative years, he has been training in Palakkad. At the Lausanne Diamond League, he struggled because of cold and windy conditions and could not cross 8m on that night. Otherwise, this season alone he has crossed the 8m-mark more than 20 times.