India's Praveen Chithravel competes in the men's triple jump final at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, on August 1, 2026.
| Photo Credit: AP
A painful memory stayed with Praveen Chithravel long after the Commonwealth Games triple jump competition had ended in Birmingham in 2022. The Indian missed out on a medal by a mere three centimetres despite delivering a leap of 16.89m.The fact that an Indian podium sweep could not be achieved must have hurt him more — his compatriots Eldhose Paul and Abdulla Aboobacker had secured a historic gold and silver.At the Scotstoun Stadium on Saturday (August 1, 2026), the 25-year-old erased that disappointment with a silver medal. With a performance of 16.58m in his fourth attempt, he secured his first Games triple jump medal, turning a scar into a moment of redemption.For the 21-year-old Selva Prabhu, it was a debut to cherish. The NCAA champion produced a 16.52m effort in his fifth and penultimate attempt to clinch bronze.That 16.72m was enough to win gold — Jamaica’s Jordan Scott was the winner — showed how difficult the conditions were. The temperature hovering around 14 degree Celsius made it challenging for the jumpers to reach their season or personal bests.National record holder Praveen arrived as one of the favourites, having been ranked No. 2 in the field on season’s bests behind Scott’s 17.69m. The Indian had come up with a 17.08m leap at the Inter-State meet in Ranchi in May, underlying his medal credentials.Selva entered the Games on the back of an impressive campaign in the NCAA circuit in the United States. His 16.05m personal best placed him among the leading triple jumpers in the Commonwealth field. And he lived up to the expectations on the big stage.Praveen and Selva overcame unfavourable conditions to secure their maiden CWG medals. Published - August 01, 2026 07:09 pm IST
