The opening meet of the Indian Athletics Series-1 at Kanteerava Stadium saw standout performances in the long jump events as two of India’s top jumpers, Murali Sreeshankar and Ancy Sojan, claimed victories in their respective categories, setting the tone for the domestic athletics season.
Sreeshankar Dominates the Men’s Long Jump
Back in competitive action after a long injury layoff, Murali Sreeshankar delivered a commanding performance to win the men’s long jump title, ending with a best leap of 8.15 metres. This effort, achieved on his fourth attempt, was the only mark in the field to surpass the 8-metre barrier on the day.
Sreeshankar — representing NCOE Trivandrum — showcased consistency with a series of solid jumps, signaling that he is regaining competitive rhythm after undergoing knee surgery that forced him out of the 2024 Paris Olympics cycle. His closest rivals on the day were Sunny Kumar (7.90m) and Purushotham (7.87m).
Reflecting on his comeback, Sreeshankar said His performance marks a strong start to the outdoor campaign and positions him well for upcoming qualifiers for major meets such as the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.
Women’s Long Jump Sees Close Fight, Sojan Edges Ahead
In the women’s long jump, rising star Ancy Sojan clinched the crown with a best effort of 6.54 metres, holding off a tight challenge from Shaili Singh, who finished just two centimetres behind at 6.52 metres. Moumita Mondal took third with 6.37 metres.
Sojan’s performance reinforced her status as one of India’s premier jumpers, adding another national triumph to her resume as she continues to build on her international experience.
Beyond the Long Jump: A Competitive Meet Across Events
The Series-1 meet also featured other strong performances across disciplines:
Reagan Ganesh soared to victory in the men’s pole vault with a personal best of 5.35m.
In the sprints, Tamil Arasu claimed the men’s 100m title in 10.23 seconds, while Giridharani Ravi Kumar clocked 11.53 seconds to win the women’s equivalent.
The men’s 200m saw all podium finishers break the 21-second mark, with Jishnu Prasad winning in 20.76 seconds.
Short and precise, this summary reflects the key developments from the long jump events at the Indian Athletics Series-1, capturing performances, results, and athlete context as reported by reliable sources.
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