Stunning Turn of Events at World Athletics Championships: Aldrin's Triumph and Unexpected Exit Leave Fans Awestruck!

Jeswin Aldrin, the holder of the national long jump record, has successfully secured his place in the finals of his debut at the World Athletics Championships. However, his counterpart Murali Sreeshankar faced an unexpected exit due to a lackluster performance during the qualification round held in Budapest on Wednesday.

Aldrin had previously garnered attention for his outstanding 8.42m jump in March, establishing a new national record and positioning himself as a leading contender for the season.

In the qualification round, Aldrin managed to clear the 8.0m mark in his first attempt. Unfortunately, he fouled his next two jumps. Nevertheless, his overall performance was sufficient to secure a spot among the top 12 finalists, who are scheduled to compete on Thursday.

For advancement to the finals, athletes needed to reach the automatic qualification distance of 8.15m or secure a position within the top 12 rankings across the combined results of the two qualification groups.

Within Group B, Aldrin concluded the qualification round in the sixth position. Overall, his performance ranked him as the twelfth-best competitor across both groups, narrowly securing the final spot in the finals.

In contrast, Sreeshankar faced disappointment with jumps of 7.74m, 7.66m, and 6.70m. This placed him in the 12th position in the Group A qualification round and 22nd overall.

Sreeshankar's unanticipated elimination in the qualification round added to the Indian camp's dismay following Avinash Sable's unexpected failure to secure a spot in the finals of the 3000m steeplechase. Sable was expected to at least reach the finals.

Unlike Aldrin, Sreeshankar exhibited more consistent performances throughout the season, frequently surpassing the 8m mark. He achieved his personal best of 8.41m in Bhubaneswar in June, and his entry into the World Championships followed his silver-winning 8.37m jump in the Asian Championships held in July.

However, Sreeshankar's form deserted him on Wednesday, a significant setback for the Paris Diamond League third-place finisher. Although he finished seventh in the 2022 World Championships in the USA, this marked his third appearance in the event.

This was Aldrin's second participation in the World Championships. He was previously eliminated during the qualification round in the 2022 edition held in the USA.

An intriguing fact emerged as both Indians, Aldrin and Sreeshankar, entered the World Championships as the first and second-ranked long jumpers in the season's leaders' list.

After his remarkable early-season leap, Aldrin grappled with maintaining the 8m mark. Additionally, he faced fitness issues that caused him to miss the Asian Championships in July. His latest victory was at the CITIUS Meeting in Bern, Switzerland, where he triumphed with an 8.22m jump.