Long jumper Prem Kumar fails to qualify for World Championships

Promising Indian long jumper Kumaravel Prem Kumar's hopes of qualifying for next month's World Championships virtually ended as his creditable 8.12m effort at a meet at Chula Vista in the United States turned out to be wind-assisted and hence cannot enter record books.

A strong tail wind (3.1 m/s) prevented Prem Kumar's jump being listed as a new national record and a chance to figure in the Indian team for the August 10-18 World Championships in Moscow.

The 'B' standard for World Championships qualification stands at 8.10m while the national record in this event is held by Amritpal Singh (8.08m) since 2004. The deadline for qualification in the World Championships is July 29.

Prem Kumar, who had won a silver at the Asian Championships in Pune earlier this month, finished second behind American Ronald Taylor (8.19m) at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista in California on Friday.

The 20-year-old Prem opened with 7.76m before his 8.12 on the second round. He lost his rhythm on the third (6.20m), yet managed to pull another outstanding 8.00m (with a legal wind of 1.4 m/s). His last two jumps read as 7.82 and 7.87m respectively.

Prem Kumar's earlier personal best is 8.00m and that will stand as his wind-assisted 8.12m will not be counted. He had cleared 7.92m in Pune while winning a silver in the Asian Championships.