EXCLUSIVE: Confident of landing on Tokyo Olympics podium, Sreeshankar's hopes hinge on practice in Europe

Two months ago during the Federation Cup Senior National Athletics Championships in Patiala, Murali Sreeshankar excelled his own national record and has booked his participation for the Olympics in Tokyo. But the travel restrictions and suspended flights have forced him to rethink his strategy.

Hyderabad: If long jumper Murali Sreeshankar's training itinerary goes as planned, the 22-year-old Kerala athlete is confident of bettering his personal best and "landing on the podium" in the Tokyo Olympics.

Having spent much of the last two years away from competitive action because of a heel injury and then the pandemic, Sreeshankar made a victorious return at the Indian Grand Prix-2. He then made a jump of 8.26m in the Federation Cup.

A giant leap in Patiala two months ago during the Federation Cup Senior National Athletics Championships where he excelled his own national record has booked his participation for the Olympics in Tokyo. But the travel restrictions and suspended flights have forced him to rethink his strategy.

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"If everything goes as planned, then I am sure I will be able to better my national record in Tokyo. I will be aiming for top four. To win a medal you need to compete with the best. But if I do better than my personal best then I will definitely land on the podium," Sreeshankar, who is managed by JSW sports, told Etv Bharat in an interview over the telephone.

Murali Sreeshankar

Indian athletes such as Sreeshankar opt for Europe to get themselves quality game time ahead of big sporting events. With players from various countries practicing at close quarters, the setting provides valuable match practice.

But countries shutting doors on Covid-stricken India means they will have to weigh other options.

"The competitions are really required to build up the momentum ahead of the Tokyo Games and I am concerned that it won't be happening this year due to the cancellations of the flight. But I am sure there will be a way through," he said.

If the plans of training in Europe don't come to fruition, the long jumper is looking to participate in the Asian circuit.

"I am optimistic about Europe, but if not Europe then there is competition in the Asian circuit as well. I am looking forward (to) that before competing in the Olympics Games," said the young long jumper during a virtual press conference organised by Sports Authority of India (SAI).

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The Olympics are barely two-and-a-half months away and Sreeshankar's preparation seems to be on full-tilt as he works on removing errors and defects in his game by making corrective changes, which he started off on right after the Federation Cup.

"Immediately after Federation Cup, we listed/pointed out all my drawbacks, in the sense what are the technicalities I am lagging behind. We coordinated everything and we are working on that," he said.

Sreeshankar is currently training at the Government Medical College ground at Palakkad in Kerala with his father who himself is a former triple jumper. He is hoping to get some game time so as to make himself match-ready for the Olympics.

"I am hopeful of getting at least three-four competitions ahead of the Olympics, so that all the fine-tuning processes take place perfectly and get ready for the big leap in Tokyo," Sreeshankar said.

Domestic events will be the way forward for Sreeshankar if he is unable to take part in both Asian and European competitions. He agreed, however, that competition in the international circuit is at a different level and is the most ideal way to prepare for the Tokyo Olympics.

"I will definitely be competing in IGP-4 and National Inter-State (in June). If I jump in the domestic circuit, it is also a big help for me. We have an 8m jumper here, two guys who are 7.90m, so it is a competitive atmosphere for me.

"My peers will be trying to push me hard, so I will be trying to push them even harder. But getting competitions in the international circuit is an entirely different scene. It is the best way to prepare for a big event like the Olympics," he explained.

When asked what the realistic mark to clinch the medal is, he replied, "8.35m and 8.40m."

"That’s what realistic distance my dad has figured out for me."

A year into the pandemic, with everything going haywire in the wake of the pandemic, does it bother him not being able to fly out and train?

"Last year too we didn't have any competition, but I kept my focus and kept working hard. This time would be no different as I will follow the same pattern. I can't complain and keep working hard on my training," he told this website.

"Things are pretty tough in the country (due to COVID-19 pandemic). Within my surroundings we have lost three lives. I know my responsibility towards the country as a sportsman, and it is important for me.

"I am committed 100 per cent to fulfil that responsibility towards my country. So nothing comes in my mind when I think about a medal for India at the Olympics," Sreeshankar said.

-- Ayushmaan Pandey