Indian Open Jumps Competition 2023: Long jumper Jeswin Aldrin breaks national record to make Asian Games cut

Jeswin Aldrin set a new national record to win the gold medal in the men’s long jump event at the Indian Open Jumps Competition 2023 in Bellary, Karnataka on Thursday.

Competing at the Inspire Institute of Sports (IIS), Jeswin Aldrin pulled off an impressive jump of 8.42m to break the previous national record of 8.36m by Murali Sreeshankar, set at the Federation Cup 2022 in April last year. 

Interestingly, Jeswin Aldrin won the Federation Cup last year but his effort of 8.37m was not considered a national record due to wind assistance as the tailwind of +2 m/s during the time of his jump.

With the national record jump, Jeswin Aldrin has now made the cut for the Asian Games as he breached the qualifying standard for the Asian Games set at 7.95m by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) in the men’s long jump.

Jeswin Aldrin started with a jump of 8.05m and improved it to 8.26m. After hitting his best of 8.42m in his third attempt, Aldrin did not go for the remaining three attempts.

“I wanted to break the national record last year but unfortunately it ended up being a wind-assisted jump. I am happy that I finally broke the record at my home ground. I am elated that the national record is now in my name,” Jeswin Aldrin said.

Jeswin Aldrin had already qualified for the 2023 World Championships with his gold medal-winning 8.26m leap at the National Games last year. His jump of 8.42m would have been good enough to earn him a ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympics but the qualification window opens only in July.

Jeswin Aldrin has been in terrific form in the 2023 season so far. At the Asian Indoor Championships held in Astana last month, Jeswin Aldrin created a new national indoor record with a 7.97m long jump.

Muhammed Anees Yahiya, who won silver with an 8.15m effort at the last edition, won a silver medal at this edition as well courtesy of a 7.85m effort. Rishabh Rishishwar won bronze with a 7.77m leap among 12 competitors.

The women’s long jump event was topped by Sruthilekshmi with a 6.11m effort. Manisha Merel (5.96m) and R Punitha (5.85m) claimed silver and bronze, respectively.

Besides the long jump, the Indian Open Jumps Competition 2023 saw action in the pole vault, triple jump and high jump events.

In a stacked men’s triple jump field, Praveen Chithravel, an indoor national record holder, pipped Commonwealth Games champion Eldhose Paul and silver medallist Abdulla Aboobacker for the top spot.

In the process, Praveen Chithravel (17.17m) and Eldhose Paul (16.61m) made the cut for the Asian Games by breaching the entry standard of 16.60m. Abdulla Aboobacker claimed the bronze medal with a 15.93m leap.

The men’s high jump saw Sarvesh Anil Kushare win the gold with a jump of 2.24m and match the Asian Games qualifying mark. Rubina Yadav notched 1.74m to win the women’s high jump event.

Gayathry Sivakumar came up with an effort of 12.98m to win the women’s triple jump event but her effort fell short of the Asian Games qualifying mark of 13.58m.

Sindhushree G won the women’s pole vault event with an effort of 3.50m while Shekhar Pandey, with a height of 4.80m, claimed the top spot in the men’s pole vault.

Indian Open Jumps Competition 2023 medal winners

Long Jump

Men: 1. Jeswin Aldrin (8.42m NR); 2. Muhammed Anees Yahiya (7.85m); 3. Rishabh Rishishwar (7.77m)

Women: 1. Sruthilekshmi (6.11m); 2. Manisha Merel (5.96m); 3. R Punitha (5.85m)

High Jump

Men: 1. Sarvesh Anil Kushare (2.24m); 2. Uchchaal Kumar Roy (2.08m); 2. Swadhin Kumar Majhi (2.08m)

Women: 1. Rubina Yadav (1.74m); 2. Abhinaya Shetty (1.74m); 3. Niranjana Sampath (1.60m)

Triple Jump

Men: 1. Praveen Chithravel (17.17m); 2. Eldhose Paul (16.61m); 3. Abdulla Aboobacker (15.93m)

Women: 1. Gayathry Sivakumar (12.98m); 2. R Punitha (12.39m); 3. Sharvari Parulekar (12.30m)

Pole vault

Men: 1. Shekhar Pandey (4.80m) 2. Anas EB(4.70m); 3. Ajay Kumar (4.70m)

Women: 1. Sindhushree G (3.50m); 2. Vibha Srinivasa (3.20m)