Former Asian champion Abdulla Aboobacker defeated national record holder Praveen Chithravel to clinch the men’s triple jump crown at the Indian Open Jumps Competition 2026 in Bengaluru on Saturday.
The opening day also featured senior competition in women’s triple jump, with Andhra Pradesh’s Mallala Anusha (13.18m), Aleena T Saji (13.12m) and Nimisha Dayma (13.08m) completing the podium.
Competing at the Anju Bobby High Performance Centre, Aboobacker produced his best jump of 16.83m on his third attempt to secure victory. The international jumper representing the Air Force got his rhythm right in his third attempt to take home the gold medal with a distance of 16.83m. His opening jump was 16.05m, and he recorded a jump of 16.57m in his second attempt. However, he didn’t attempt the last three jumps.
Aboobacker’s personal best of 17.19m was also recorded at the same venue during last year’s edition of the competition. Asian Games bronze medallist Praveen Chithravel, who opened with a 16.59m jump and later improved to 16.78m, finished second. Gailey Venister claimed bronze with a best effort of 16.48m.
Chithravel holds the Indian national record in the men’s triple jump with a 17.37m leap set in a meet in Cuba in 2023. He matched the mark two years later at the Federation Cup in Kochi. This was the eighth one-two finish between Abdulla Aboobacker and Praveen Chithravel, who first went head-to-head at the 2021 Federation Cup in Patiala. Chithravel has finished ahead in six of those eight contests.
Meena takes pole vault title
In the men’s pole vault, Dev Meena cleared 5.25m to take the title. After missing twice at 5.35m, Meena opted to attempt the national record height of 5.41m but could not clear the bar.
Dev Meena holds the national record in pole vault with a 5.40m set at the World University Games in Germany last year.
Kuldeep Kumar also cleared 5.25m but settled for silver on countback, while M Gowtham secured bronze with 5.10m at the athletics meet.
Sarvesh wins high jump title
Paris 2024 Olympian Sarvesh Kushare won the men’s high jump title with a clearance of 2.16m. Aaditya Raghuvanshi and Swadhin Kumar Majhi both cleared 2.13m to take silver and bronze, respectively.
This was Kushare’s first competition of the year. Last season, he registered India’s best result in the high jump at the World Athletics Championships, finishing sixth in Tokyo after clearing 2.28m.
The Indian national record in the event belongs to Tejaswin Shankar, who cleared 2.29m in a meet in Texas in 2018.
Results: Men’s pole vault: 1. Dev Manna (5.25m); 2. Kuldeep Kumar (5.25m); 3. M Gowtham (5.10m).
Men’s high jump: 1. Sarvesh Kushare (2.16m); 2. Aditya Raghuvanshi (2.13m); 3. Swadhin Kumar Majhi (2.13m).
Men’s triple jump: 1. Abdulla Aboobacker (16.83m); 2. Praveen Chithravel (16.78m); 3. Gailey Venister (16.48m).
Women’s triple jump: 1. Mallala Anusha (13.18m); 2. Aleena T Saji (13.12m); 3. Nimisha Dayma (13.08m).
