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 World Championships on Friday.
Maheswary finished sixth in the Group ‘A’ qualification round, and 13th overall, with a best jump of 16.63m, well short of his National record of 17.07m and his season’s best of 16.98m.
The final 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 failed in the big events, returning with no marks in the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, and the 2012 London Olympics.
On Friday, his attempts were all legal but he was nowhere near his best.
He began with a disappointing 16.08m and cleared 16.63m in his second attempt before a 16.28m in his last jump.
In the women’s 4x400m relay, the Indian quartet failed to qualify for the final round as they finished fifth and last in their heat, and 14th overall.
The quartet of Nirmala, Tintu Luka, Anu Mariam Jose and M.R. Poovamma, who had won gold in the Asian championships in Pune last month, clocked a below-par 3:38.81s in their heat. They had clocked 3:32.26s in Pune.
Ashwini Akkunji, who made it to the six-member squad just days after ending her two-year period for a doping offence, did not run in the race.
India sent 15 athletes to the championships and the best performance came from discus thrower Vikas Gowda, who finished seventh.
