New Delhi: Indian fans and sports executives are overjoyed after the track and field competition brought home eight medals, the best total at a Commonwealth Games hosted outside of the country. The medal rush has sparked a social media blitz on busy keypads.
Birmingham’s medal display historically significant
Tejaswin Shankar’s bronze in the high jump and Avinash Sable’s silver in the 3,000-meter steeplechase were both firsts for India.
In the men’s triple jump, Eldhose Paul and Abdulla Aboobacker’s 1-2 finish is unparalleled.
Before Murali Sreeshankar’s silver in the men’s long jump, the previous medalist was Suresh Babu, who won a bronze in Edmonton in 1978.
Annu Rani was the first Indian woman to place third in the javelin throw event at the CWG.
Priyanka Goswami and Sandeep Kumar can utilize their medals from the 10,000-meter race walk, even though they were in a non-Olympic category, as a stepping stone.
Victories other than medals
Avinash Sable is the first non-Kenyan to win a medal in the 3,000m steeplechase at the commonwealth games in over two decades.
High jumper Shankar had to persuade the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) for his participation in the Commonwealth Games 2022. He had to argue with the organisers before a court in Delhi.
Despite Shankar meeting the eligibility requirements of the reputable National Collegiate Athletic Association, the AFI had not chosen him. Shankar blocked off the noise to place first.
Even though he is only 23, his lack of resentment toward the officials who made his life miserable before the Games indicates that he has a mature head on his shoulders and is capable of handling challenges.
Paul, a triple jumper, had to overcome obstacles to reach the top of the podium. He missed out on a sports scholarship since he wasn’t the top triple jumper in his college. Despite being undersized for a triple jumper, he makes up for it with powerful and quick reflexes.
After failing to qualify for a medal in the first two rounds, Paul crossed the 17-meter barrier for the first time in his third leap, winning the gold by a mere centimeter over Aboobacker.
India finished its CWG 2022 campaign as the fourth-best country on the medals table. The 2022 Birmingham games were India’s best performance outside of the country.
