Murali Sreeshankar to start his Olympic preparations with Shanghai Diamond League

By
Teja Devathoti
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9
Murali Sreeshankar

Murali Sreeshankar, one of India’s top long jumpers, is set to kick off his season at the Shanghai/Suzhou Diamond League. This year is particularly crucial as it is an Olympic year. Sreeshankar will compete in back-to-back Diamond League Meetings in Shanghai/Suzhou and Doha on April 27 and May 10, respectively. This announcement was made by the Inspire Institute of Sport, where Sreeshankar trains.

Murali Sreeshankar’s Preparation for the Olympic Games

Last year, Sreeshankar became only the third Indian to finish in the top three in a Diamond League Meeting. He achieved this feat in the Paris leg on June 9 with a third-place finish. The other two Indians who have accomplished this are Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra and former discus thrower Vikas Gowda.

Sreeshankar won a silver in the Hangzhou Asian Games last year. However, he was disappointed with a qualifying round exit in the 2023 Budapest World Championships. Despite this setback, Sreeshankar’s performance in the Diamond League has been commendable. He finished third and fifth in the Paris and Lausanne legs, respectively.

In Doha, Sreeshankar will be joined by Chopra and another Indian javelin thrower Kishore Jena in a star-studded field. Both Chopra and Jena are starting their season in Doha. Meanwhile, 2022 Commonwealth Games silver medallist triple jumper Abdulla Aboobacker will compete in the season’s first Diamond League Meeting in Xiamen, China, on April 20.

Sreeshankar’s decision to start his season at the Shanghai/Suzhou Diamond League is a strategic move. It allows him to compete against some of the best athletes in the world, thereby providing him with valuable experience and exposure. This will undoubtedly aid in his preparation for the upcoming Olympic Games.

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