New Delhi: India’s top long jump athlete and Commonwealth Games medalist, Murali Sreeshankar, expressed his feelings about missing out on the Paris Olympics 2024.
Sreeshankar, who placed seventh in the world rankings, injured his left knee while training at Palakkad, his hometown, last month. He ruled himself out of the marquee multi-sport event as he opted for surgery following a series of consultations and tests, as per Olympics.com.
The 25-year-old underwent successful knee surgery this week in Doha, Qatar, after sustaining an injury that ruled him out of the ongoing mega event.
“I do miss being in Paris for the Olympics. It was very unfortunate, but I have no other option than to keep myself mentally strong and get back for the next Olympics, which is in Los Angeles. As a fan, I will be cheering on the Indian athletes who will be competing in Paris,” Murali Sreeshankar, Olympics Expert on JioCinema and Sports18, said in a media conference.
With athletics set to kick off in the Olympics soon, reigning Olympic and World champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, will be in action during August. The qualifiers for the men’s javelin throw event will take place on August 6 and the final will take place two days later.
Apart from Chopra, athletes like Avinash Sable (Men’s 3000m Steeplechase), Tajinderpal Singh Toor (Men’s Shot Put), Parul Chaudhary (Women’s 3000m Steeplechase), Jyothi Yarraji (Women’s 100m Hurdles), Annu Rani (Women’s Javelin Throw), and others will eye a medal in Paris.
Sreeshankar believes that India could end up with more than one medal in athletics this time.