Olympic qualification in doubt as Jeswin Aldrin finishes fifth at the World Athletics Meet in Spain

Indian long jumper Jeswin Aldrin’s recent run of poor form persisted at the Guadalajara Athletics Puma Meeting in Spain. Competing in the World Athletics Continental Tour-Challenger event on Sunday, June 23, Aldrin failed to reach even the 8m mark, finishing fifth with a distance of 7.65m.

This performance was particularly disappointing for the former World No.1, who managed only one legal jump amidst a series of fouls.

Jeswin Aldrin, who hails from Tamil Nadu, set a national record last year with an impressive 8.42m jump at the Indian Open Jumps Meet in Ballari, a feat that propelled him to the top of the world rankings.

The 22-year-old has faced a series of underwhelming performances lately, casting doubt on his chances of qualifying for the Paris Olympics 2024. This continued slump comes at a crucial time, as the end of the qualification window for the Summer Games is rapidly approaching.

---

How can Jeswin Aldrin qualify for the Paris Olympics 2024?

Indian athletics took a hit when long jumper Murali Sreeshankar was ruled out of the Paris Olympics 2024 due to a knee injury.

Sreeshankar had already secured his quota for the Games by surpassing the qualifying standard of 8.27m at the Asian Athletics Championships in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2023, where he achieved a distance of 8.37m to win a silver medal.

With Sreeshankar sidelined, the focus shifted to Jeswin Aldrin. As of the latest rankings update on June 18, Aldrin sits in the 30th spot, precariously close to the top 32 who will qualify for Paris. He must maintain or improve this ranking by June 30, the cut-off date for athletics qualifications.

Aldrin’s best chance to secure his place might be at the 63rd National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships 2024 in Panchkula, Haryana, from June 27 to 30. Competing on home soil could provide the boost he needs to meet the qualification standard and solidify his position in the rankings.