Moscow: Triple jumper Renjith Maheswary flopped yet again in a big event as he failed to qualify for the final round to mark a disappointing end to India’s campaign in the 14th IAAF World Championships here on Friday.
Maheswary finished sixth in Group A qualification round and 13th overall with a best jump of 16.63m, which was well short of his national record of 17.07m and his season’s best of 16.98m.
Those who could clear 17.05m or at least 12 best performers qualify for the final round. The last qualifier, Gaetan Saku Bafuanga Baya of France also cleared 16.63m but he made to the final round on countback as his second best jump (16.37m) was better than that of Maheswary (16.28m).
Maheswary, who has been recommended for this year’s Arjuna Award, has been criticised as a choker in big events as he had returned with no marks in the 2011 World Athletics Championships in Daegu, Japan and in the 2012 London Olympics.
On Friday, his attempts were all legal but he was nowhere near his best as he began with a disappointing 16.08m and cleared 16.63m in his second attempt before a 16.28m in his last jump. Teddy Tamgho of France was the lead jumper with 17.41m going into the final round. In the women’s 4x400m relay, the Indian quartet also failed to qualify for the final round as they finished last in the five-team heat number one and 14th overall to bring curtains on India’s campaign. (PTI)