LONG JUMPER ALDRIN TO COMPETE IN WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
(The Quiver) : After two trails and two days of suspension, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) finally cleared long jumper Jeswin Aldrin for the World Athletics Championship which begin in Oregon, USA.
The AFI release, which came on Sunday night, said the federation, in consultation with the members of the selection committee, decided to include Aldrin.
Aldrin had achieved the World Athletics’ entry standard (8.22m) in the Federation Cup in April with 8.26m and also shocked national record holder M. Sreeshankar to take the gold (with wind assited-8.37), but the AFI hoped him to come close to that mark at the recent inter-State Nationals at Chennai, which served as the primary qualifying event for the World Championship.
The 20-year-old, who is seventh in the World this year, could jump only 7.71(qualifying round) and 7.51 (final ) to finish sixth in Chennai.
Although the AFI had initially required Aldrin to jump close to 8.10m in a release on Sunday.
“We have decided to give him the chance to compete in the World Championship after he jumped close to 8.00m, 7.99m in the first trail (in Thiruvananthapuram ) and 7.93 in Patiala,” said Adille Sumariwalla, the AFl president.
With Aldrin now included, India will have three long jumpers for the first time ever in the World Athletics Championship.
The men’s long jump qualification round will be held in the evening session on July 15.
