India’s Malayali long jumper Sreeshankar fails to qualify for World Championships finals

India's Malayali long jumper M Sreeshankar failed to advance to the finals of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Monday.

Sreeshankar finished 25th overall with a best effort of 7.78 metres in the qualification round. Jamaica's Tajay Gayle finished first in qualification with a best of 8.28 metres.

Sreeshankar produced a series of 7.59 m and 7.70 m in his two other jumps. Switzerland's Simon Ehammer and China's Mingkun Zhang qualified for the finals with best jumps of 7.99 m and 7.98 m respectively.

Sreeshankar had entered the World Championships on the back of a host of domestic and overseas events since returning to fitness after a lengthy layoff with an injury.

The 26-year-old had won five gold medals, including the World Athletics Bronze Level Continental Tour event in Bhubaneswar in August, with an effort of 8.13 m. Sreeshankar's personal best is 8.41 m.

Sreeshankar bagged silver medal in the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, with an effort of 8.19 metres.