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Picture Credit: Twitter

Jeswin Aldrin of Tamil Nadu defeated Commonwealth Games silver medallist Murali Sreeshankar of Kerala for the gold in a high-quality long jump competition in the National Games on Saturday to qualify for the 2023 World Athletic Championships. Aldrin clocked the jump of 8.26m in his sixth and last attempt to clinch gold and edged past the World Championship qualifying mark of 8.25m.

The athlete also marked two more jumps above 8m, 8.07m and 8.21m. CWG-silver medallist Sreeshankar holds a national record of 8.36m, had the best jump of 7.93m which he touched in his first attempt. He clocked the jump of another jump of 7.55m before passing all the remaining four attempts. Meanwhile, top-long jumper, Muhammed Anees Yahiya of Kerala was third clocking the best figure of 7.92m. 

In 100m dash events, Amlan Borgohain of Assam and Jyothi Yarraji of Andhra Pradesh emerged as the fastest man and woman respectively in the National Games after clinching gold. Jyothi won gold with a time of 11.51 seconds in the women's 100m gold, outplaying the likes of Dutee Chand (Odisha) and Hima Das (Assam).

Archana Suseendran of Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra's Diandra Valladares won the silver and bronze with the figures of 11.55 and 11.62 seconds, respectively. National record holder Dutee finished sixth with a time of 11.69s while Hima was seventh in 11.74s. 

"I didn't come here thinking of winning or losing. I just wanted to clock a good timing and that helped me come up with my fastest race. Dutee and Hima have always encouraged me and inspired me to do well. I thank them for their support. I am just happy that I won and don’t think on the lines that I beat them,” said Jyothi Yarraji.

Borgohain clocked 10.38s in the men's 100m dash to stand on the top of the podium, while Tamil Nadu runners Elakiyadasan VK (10.44) and Siva Kumar B (10.48) finished second and third respectively.