Indian long jumper Jeswin Aldrin’s journey in the men’s long jump event at the Paris Olympics came to an end on Sunday after he fell short of the qualification mark at Stade de France. Despite a promising career, Aldrin could not secure a spot in the final, finishing with a best jump of 7.61 meters during the Group B qualification round.
Aldrin’s single successful jump placed him 13th out of 16 in his group and he did not meet the qualification standard of 8.15 meters. With this performance, the 22-year-old ended up in 26th position overall, failing to advance to the final stage of the event.
Aldrin, who holds the national long jump record, had a challenging day as his first and second attempts were unsuccessful, and although he managed a better jump in his third attempt, it was not enough to secure a top 12 spot.
The Indian athletics team, comprising 29 members, began their campaign on August 1 and will continue until August 11 at the Stade de France. Notable competitors for India include Neeraj Chopra, the world and Olympic champion in men’s javelin throw, who will defend his gold medal. The javelin throw qualification round is set for August 6, with the finals on August 8.
In addition to Chopra, Asian Games gold medallist Annu Rani will compete in the women’s javelin throw. The men’s 4x400m relay team, featuring Asian Games gold medallists Muhammed Anas, Muhammed Ajmal, Amoj Jacob, Santhosh Tamilarasan, Rajesh Ramesh, and Mijo Chacko Kurian, will also look to build on their past successes.
Avinash Sable, who holds the national record in the men’s 3000m steeplechase, is another athlete to watch, aiming to secure an Olympic medal following his strong performances at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.