M Sreesankar: Journey to Success in Long Jump and Olympic Qualification

2023-07-29 17:19:15

M Sreesankar bettered his earlier best performance in the long jump by clocking 8.41 in the inter-state meet held in June. Asian Games, World Athletics Championships. The biggest sporting events are coming up in the next two months. Sreesankar is India’s medal hope, including at the 2024 Paris Olympics. M Sreesankar shares with Reporter TV Online his hopes and preparations ahead of the big matches.

Sreesankar now has two important championships ahead of him. How are the preparations going?

There are clear plans ahead. Now going to Budapest, Hungary. After the World Athletic Championships there is the Zurich Diamond League from August 30. The Diamond League is sometimes omitted as the Asian Championship is taken more seriously. Zurich will remain in Europe following participating in the Diamond League. Asian Games cannot go to China to practice. After the Asian Games, the Diamond League finals are in America. It’s a busy schedule. So the current decision is to give more consideration to the Asian Games and the World Athletic Championships.

How much hope is there?

It is in very good form now. So there is very good hope. If you are lucky, you can expect miracles. But nothing can be predicted. I am competing once morest world class players. They are the stars who can bring out the best at any time. Faced tough competition in the Asian Championship. It was a favorite championship. Both jumped 8.10 meters following the first round. I also managed to jump a career-best second jump on the sixth occasion.

Important championships coming in 3 consecutive months. Feeling a tough competition? How to overcome

It has been decided to give importance to the Asian Games. However, there are many benefits to participating in the Diamond League. Able to compete with world-class athletes. A lot of people recognize me in Europe. This is due to the medal success in the championships. Participating in championships abroad will bring great recognition. If you participate in the Asian Championships and the World Athletics Championships, there will be only two meets in two months. It will reduce the intensity of competition.

Difference between overseas meets and India?

It is possible to perform well there only if you adapt to the climate and food habits of a foreign country. This is the reason why our stars are usually unable to excel abroad. There is a 12 hour time difference between America and India. If there are 24 hours, then our stars will match one hour with American time. It took only 12 days for the star’s body to fully adapt to American conditions. You can adapt to the food and climate of the country only if you arrive abroad very, very early. It is not possible to come down today and compete tomorrow. Overseas matches are not telecast in India. Foreign meets will be telecasted live in all but a few countries like India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Spectator participation in stadiums is also high.

Will foreign players perform well if they come to India from Europe?

Of course they can. After each meet, the foreign players are ready for the next match in any situation. Neeraj Chopra is the only actor who has been so consistent in India.

What should be done for Indian players to come up?

Must work hard. It is not enough to perform well at the school level. Focus on exactly that sport. Aiming for moderation marks will get you nowhere. There should also be conditions for the players to grow at the government level. I am traveling from ground to ground in Europe. Staying in hotels alternately. A large cost is incurred. Communicate with people abroad. I own every achievement by overcoming such difficulties.

Didn’t he miss the gold by just three centimeters in the Asian Championship?

It will happen. An error in measuring the distance was pointed out. 99 percent of people said it was wrong. The appeal was filed on a bond of $100 (Rs. 8,500). There was no video referee system. A trial jump was 8.60 meters. So there is hope in the upcoming matches.

How happy are you to qualify for Paris?

That is the greatest joy. The Olympics is one of the biggest goals for an athlete. A medal can be expected in Paris if he maintains his current form. Sometimes gold itself can be obtained.

Could it be said that the current championships are a preparation for next year’s Olympics in Paris? Looking ahead to the Paris Olympics?

Of course, all current championships are stepping stones to the Paris Olympics. The qualifying gate was opened only on July 1. The qualifying mark was 8.27. That’s a long way. Qualified with a distance jump of 8.37. Don’t stress regarding qualifying for Olympics anymore. We can prepare for the Paris Olympics in peace.

Is gold the goal in Paris?

Everyone’s goal is gold. But gold has potential. Any medal can be acquired.

In 2021, Sreesankar made a wish when he cleared a distance of 8.26 meters at the jumping pit in Patiala. 8.40 m distance. Sreesankar achieved that goal at the inter-state athletic meet in Bhuvanvesar. Now the next target is to surpass Mike Powell’s 8.95m. Can Paris accomplish this goal?

That is a very long distance. A difficult goal. A target of 8.95 may sometimes yield a distance of 8.70. It is believed that it can be acquired. Maybe in Paris or somewhere else that feat can be acquired.

Do you think that everything is done following covering a distance of 8.95 meters? Can’t there be a next goal?

Record careers come and go. The mission is to prepare for the next meet. Long jump is my passion. It will never end.

Jeswin Aldrin of Tamil Nadu holds the national record in men’s long jump. Jeswin Sreesankar’s record of 8.41 meters was surpassed following clearing 8.42 meters in the National Open Jump Championship. Do you want to own that record once more?

Of course it’s possible. In its present form it is possible. The goal now is to win the big meet. The focus is not on acquiring records.

In the world rankings, Sreesankar is ranked 5th in long jump and 214th overall in athletics. How much progress is aimed at?

The position will change. Aim for first place.

How many hours do you train in a day?

Practice once a day. The time will increase according to each championship. Focus on learning when training is reduced. At least three hours of training will be conducted a day.

Sreesankar’s progress towards achievements in the long jump pit was very fast. Sreesankar, who debuted with a record at the 2012 state meet, rewrote most of the national records in the long jump in 10 years. What is the reality behind the achievements?

Hard work that takes the easy way out. There are no other ways. Passion and hard work is all there is to a career.

Behind every achievement of Sreesankar in long jump is the great support of his parents. How did father help Sreesankar’s career? How did mother help?

Both father and mother are international athletes. Sister is also an athlete. All we talk regarding at home 24X7 is sports. It has an effect.

Sreesankar wrote the fourth year exam in B.Sc Maths while he was training in Palakkad for the Tokyo Olympics. All 4 subjects got A grade. 99 marks out of 100! Sreesankar was able to promote both studies and sports. How did that happen?

Just learn and practice a little each day. That’s what followed forever. It was beneficial in studies.

After getting admission in MBBS study, whose decision is to leave it?

Didn’t like it. He was interested in sports. So the family did not insist.

Dropped out of engineering midway through college. Didn’t go for MBBS. Can you tell me regarding Sreesankar’s performance at the academy level?

He had 96 percent marks in class 10th. Plustu had 97 percent. 90% marks in graduation. Two semester exams were written in nine days. Still ranked 10th in the university.

Sreesankar decided once and for all. Studying for sports is enough, what was behind that decision? How was that decision reversed?

The Tokyo Olympics’ covid rules were behind the decision. Two doses of vaccine were taken in 21 days. It affected health. Since India was a red zone country, it was mandatory to follow the Kovid Act. The encouragement of relatives and family brought me back to the arena.

Along with Sreesankar’s many achievements, history would have recorded a first in history when he won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games and cleared a distance of 8.20 meters at the Open Athletics meet in Bhubaneswar. So what do you think?

Such things are not noticed. Not even interested in talking to the media. Neeraj Chopra is my close friend. Neeraj also proceeds in the same way.

What did you feel when the Prime Minister congratulated you?

The family was happy. But I didn’t even notice it. Not interested in that.

5th place in the most recent Diamond League held in Lausanne, Switzerland. Sreesankar won the silver at the Commonwealth Games in his fifth attempt. In 2018, the first national record was set in the fifth jump. At the fifth position, at the fifth attempt and so many times in Sreesankar’s career five has been a number. Have you considered five as a lucky number? Do you have a favorite number?

Don’t believe in such things. It happens somehow. I can bring out the best in the opportunity. Maybe it’s getting better on the fifth attempt.

The effect of wind is crucial in the long jump. How does wind affect a competitor?

Up to 2 meters per second is allowed if the wind blows from behind. 2.1 is not allowed. If the wind blows from the front, it is possible that the jump will be reduced up to 20 cm.

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