Praveen Chithravel, in solely the third spherical of the competitors, equalled his personal nationwide file within the triple leap and known as it a day on the Federation Cup Senior Athletics Championships.
His celebration was noteworthy. Upon touchdown, he was certain it was an enormous leap. He jumped again up and raised each arms and flung a little bit of mud in exultation. Then he sought out his coach Yoandri Betanzos, a two-time Worlds silver medallist, they usually high-fived.
As officers measured the space, the query was whether or not it might be a nationwide file. When the leap was recorded at 17.37 metres, Chithravel was overjoyed. He thumped his chest with one hand. Extra celebrations. He additionally went previous the World Championship Qualifying Commonplace of 17.22m on Thursday.
On the again of his chest quantity, Chithravel had scribbled ‘17.20+… for my coach Yoandri’. He posed for photos holding the piece of paper in entrance of him. The coach units targets for him earlier than every competitors. On the Federation Cup, 17.20m was the intention.
Chithravel had damaged the nationwide file two years in the past in Havana. He has been registering 17m-plus jumps yearly since 2022.
Nevertheless, final 12 months there was a setback when he did not qualify for the ultimate on the Paris Olympics.
“The preparations for the Olympics have been good however it was the primary time I confronted a lot stress in my life. The Commonwealth Video games and Asian Video games are superb, however the Olympics are completely totally different,” Chithravel mentioned.
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The JSW athlete takes satisfaction in being a 17 metre-plus jumper. “Somebody needed to do 17m jumps in India. In India, there are solely two folks doing 17m jumps… Once I go to competitions world wide, persons are at all times leaping greater than 17 metres. So I push myself and my competitor Abdulla Aboobacker (silver medallist on Thursday),” Chithravel mentioned.
Aboobacker, leaping 16.99m for the silver medal, will be a part of Chithravel on the Asian Championships subsequent month.
(LEFT) Praveen Chithravel after equalling his personal nationwide file within the triple leap; (RIGHT) the triple jumper exhibits the message he acquired from Neeraj Chopra.
Protecting his powder dry
On Thursday, Chithravel didn’t wish to over-exert so he skipped the final three rounds. In truth, he had hoped to clinch the gold in two jumps.
“I don’t need an excessive amount of impression right here so I protected myself due to my ankle. I wish to leap on the Asian Championships and World Championships. On my first two jumps, I didn’t get to the board correctly however the third leap was excellent. I felt it was a nationwide file. I’m actually pleased as a result of I wish to push 17.30 so then someday I can leap 17:50,” he mentioned.
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Coach Betanzos mentioned that he has spoken to Chithravel about being mentally robust. “He wants a bit extra time. He’s good, explosiveness is nice, method is nice however mentally he was not ready for high-level competitions. That you must be mentally prepared for the Olympics and World Championships,” the Cuban mentioned. The coach additionally needs enhancements in Chithravel’s working strategy.
Aside from equalling his nationwide file, Chithravel had extra causes to smile when he acquired a congratulatory WhatsApp message from javelin world champion and Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Neeraj Chopra.
“Neeraj bro at all times messages me. Whether or not I lose a contest or win, each time I see his messages, I’m pleased. Every time I meet him, I at all times ask plenty of questions. Like how he handles the gang and stress,” he added.