Triple jumper Eldhose Paul announced on Thursday that he has pulled out of the race to qualify for the Paris Olympic Games in July due to a heel bone fracture.
The 27-year-old from Kerala was set to compete at the ongoing National Inter-State Athletics Championships in Panchkula in a final attempt to earn qualification for the Olympics in Paris, but the injury has ended hopes of him making the cut for the quadrennial event in France.
“Unfortunately, I sustained an injury during the last competition I took part in, which occurred towards the end of the qualifying period,” Paul wrote in a post on his social media account.
“After returning to India and undergoing further evaluation, it’s been concluded that I have a fracture in the calcaneus [heel bone] that requires immediate attention.”
Paul picked up the injury at the JBL Jump Fest in Kosice, Slovakia – a World Athletics Continental Tour bronze event. The Indian jumper won a bronze medal at the event with a jump of 16.45 metres, but sustained the injury in the process.
He had shot into the limelight when he won gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, with a career best attempt of 17.03 m.
“As athletes, we understand that injuries are part of the sport and I choose to look forward with optimism,” he added in his message. “As I take this time to heal and recover, I am reminded that this is not the end of my story.”
You’ve read Scroll.
Now help sustain it
Scroll is funded by readers, not corporate owners. If you believe our work matters, support our newsroom. Become a member today!
We’re not driven by clicks or corporate interests – just honest, independent reporting. Keep us going. Support Scroll today!