Long jumper Shaili misses gold by 1cm in U-20 Worlds

Nairobi, Aug 22: Highly talented long jumper Shaili Singh on Sunday missed out on scripting history by a mere 1cm as she settled for a silver in the U-20 World Athletics Championships here. The 17-year-old Indian’s personal best effort of 6.59m was not enough for a gold as she was pipped to the post by Sweden’s reigning European junior champion Maja Askag, who managed 6.60m for the top spot on the final day of the championships.
A protege of legendary long jumper Anju Bobby George, Shaili was leading at the end of the third round but the 18-year-old Swede overtook her in the fourth round by a mere 1cm which proved to be decisive in the end. Mariia Horielova of Ukraine took the bronze with a best jump of 6.50m.
“I could have jumped farther than the 6.59m and won the gold. My mother had told me about winning gold and national anthem being sung in the stadium (but I could not do it),” an emotional Shaili said after the race.
“I am just 17, I want a gold in next U20 World Championships (in Cali, Colombia).” Shaili, one of the brightest upcoming stars in Indian athletics, had topped the qualification round on Friday with a best jump of 6.40m. (PTI)