ATHLETICS | Lengthy jumper Sreeshankar to skip Asian C’ships, to open season in July

KOCHI

Lengthy jumper M. Sreeshankar, the Commonwealth and Asian Video games silver medallist, will miss the Asian Athletics Championships set to start within the South Korean metropolis of Gumi on Might 27.

Sreeshankar was pressured to overlook final yr’s Paris Olympics with a knee damage — 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 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 objective is to prepare for the World Championships (in Tokyo, September 13 to 21).”

Sreeshankar — No. 2 on the earth lengthy leap efficiency listing with 8.41m in early 2023 — will thus miss the Nationwide Federation Senior Championships (earlier generally known 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 approach again, I’d drop in on the stadium,” stated the 26-year-old.