Commonwealth Games 2022: India will have two finalists in the men’s long jump event as M Sreeshankar and Mohammad Anees put up a stellar performance in the qualification round on Tuesday, August 2. Sreeshankar was the only person to seal the automatic qualification.
Murali Sreeshankar has qualified for the final of the long jump of the Commonwealth Games. (courtesy: Reuters)
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- Sreeshankar is one of the top contenders to win the gold medal in the long jump.
- Sreeshankar the only person to qualify automatically with 8.05m jump
- Muhammad Anees qualified 8th in men’s long jump final
Murali Sreeshankar and Muhammad Anees Yahia qualified for the men’s long jump finals on Tuesday, August 2, making a good start to India’s athletics campaign at the Commonwealth Games 2022.
It was one and done for Murali Sreeshankar as the 23-year-old sealed automatic qualification with his maiden effort of 8.05m while competing in his maiden Commonwealth Games. The automatic qualifying mark for the men’s long jump was set at 8 metres.
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National record holder Sreeshankar is one of the favorites for gold in men’s long jump as his season-best of 8.36m came in India in April.
Men’s long jump qualifying results (screengrab from CWG 2022)
Sreeshankar, who has been jumping over 8m this season, would like to make amends to finish seventh at the World Championships last month as he managed only 7.96m in the final.
Sreeshankar missed the bus to the 2018 Commonwealth Games after suffering from appendicitis, but the 23-year-old Kerala high jumper is eyeing history in the final to be held on August 4.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Anees qualified for the final despite not obtaining automatic qualifying marks.
Anees, who has a season-best 8.15m, put up a best effort of 7.68m. He finished 8th and qualified as one of the 12 best performers in the qualification round.
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