This has been an exciting fortnight for Indian jumpers. First, national record holder Murali Sreeshankar and his Kerala teammate Muhammed Anees Yahiya impressed at the Indian Open National Jumps Competition in Thiruvananthapuram. Sreeshankar won the title there on his last jump (8.17m), after Yahiya had uncorked a personal best of 8.15m, eventually finishing second.
Tamil Nadu youngster Jeswin Aldrin has done better than both, recording the best by an Indian in 2022. Aldrin, whose father runs a sweet shop at their native Mudalur village in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi district, jumped 8.20m at Indian Grand Prix I in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.
He not only promises to challenge the pecking order, the national record of 8.26m—Sreeshankar set the mark at last year’s Federation Cup in Patiala—is within reach if he can be consistent. It is also highly encouraging for Indian athletics in a year headlined by the world championships, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
“It is an exciting passage, for sure,” says Aldrin. “To have 2-3 guys who can consistently challenge you is great for Indian athletics. We share a very healthy rivalry.”
All three have achieved the qualification marks for CWG and Asiad set by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI). It is for AFI to decide which jumper will compete where.
“Three boys crossing 8m is great. I hope they can sustain the momentum and build on from here in this busy year,” said AFI president Adille Sumariwalla.
Aldrin has his hopes in check. “It would be nice to be considered for the Asian Games and other big events, but I am not thinking too far ahead. I have set my own targets.” They include breaking the national record with a jump of “8.40 or 8.50m” this year.
He was confident of touching 8m for the first time. “I was feeling good. I have come close to the mark many times, and considering the rhythm I was in, I was confident to go 8m or beyond at least once.” He crossed the mark thrice.
Aldrin, whose idols are US jump legends Carl Lewis and Mike Powell, crossed 8m in his third attempt (8.09m) before clearing 8.11 in the next jump. His final jump was 8.20m, the second-best by an Indian.
He had hoped his last jump would better the national mark. He can have another crack at it at next month’s Federation Cup in Kozhikode, where Sreeshankar and Anees are likely to make it a three-way battle.
Sreeshankar, preparing for the world indoor meet in Belgrade this month, skipped the GP. Yahiya was the favourite but managed just 7.70m.
Aldrin’s success is no flash in the pan. Last year, he jumped 7.97m at the South Zone U-20 meet and won the inaugural U-23 title in Delhi at 7.81m, a groin strain curtailing his effort. Two months back, he came under the tutelage of former Cuban triple jump ace Yoandri Betanzos at the Inspire Institute of Sports (IIS).
The two-time world silver medallist changed the focus to jump-specific workouts.
“It is a very refreshing approach,” said Aldrin. “Sixty percent of my training is devoted to fine-tuning my jumping technique; the rest is for strength and speed. I do a lot of dry runs and weighted jumps and the results are showing.”
Sumariwalla hopes the jumpers don’t peak early. “That’s my only concern. I’ll be happier if they progress through the season and peak around the competitions rather than do well early and fizzle out as the season goes deep.”
Aldrin is not concerned. “I don’t think I am peaking early. I am still in my loading phase. I should be at my best around the Federation Cup.”
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