ATHLETICS | Long jumper Sreeshankar to skip Asian Cships, to open season in July

Long jumper M. Sreeshankar, the Commonwealth and Asian Games silver medallist, will miss the Asian Athletics Championships set to start within the South Korean metropolis of Gumi on May 27.

Sreeshankar was compelled to overlook final yr’s Paris Olympics with a knee harm — he underwent surgical procedure for that in Qatar — and now after lacking a full yr, he’s planning his return to competitors rigorously.

“I’m absolutely match, simply began my leap coaching….it would take a while,” Sreeshankar, the Asian Championship silver medallist, instructed The Hindu on Saturday night from Palakkad.

“I’ll be opening my competitors season solely in July and most likely, it may very well be in Europe or in one of many Indian Open meets in India.

“I’m not specializing in the Asian Championships this time, my purpose is to prepare for the World Championships (in Tokyo, September 13 to 21).”

Sreeshankar — No. 2 on the planet lengthy leap efficiency checklist with 8.41m in early 2023 — will thus miss the National Federation Senior Championships (earlier referred to as the Federation Cup) which start on the Maharaja’s Stadium in Kochi on Monday.

The meet would be the choice trial for subsequent month’s Asian Championships.

“I’ll be going to Qatar subsequent week for my final spherical of session with the physician there. On my manner again, I’d drop in on the stadium,” stated the 26-year-old.