India’s premier triple jumper Praveen Chithravel delivered one of the surprise performances of the 2025 athletics season, not in his trademark event, but in the men’s long jump, where he recorded a lifetime best of 7.86m at the XXIV Reunión Internacional Ciudad de Guadalajara in Spain.
Competing outside of his preferred triple jump, Praveen not only held his own but also finished third in a competitive international field, sending a strong message about his all-round athleticism and readiness for the season ahead.
Long Jump Outing Turns Into Breakthrough
Coming into the event as India’s national record holder in triple jump (17.37m), few expected Praveen to make waves in the long jump pit. But he surprised everyone by producing a personal best of 7.86m, a massive improvement over his previous best of 7.58m.
Even more impressive was the consistency across his series. Of his four valid jumps in Spain, three were better than his previous PB, indicating that the big leap wasn’t a one-off, but the result of sustained form and well-executed technique.
This outing in Spain was part of his early European season campaign and suggests that the athlete from Tamil Nadu is peaking in multiple departments as the competitive calendar intensifies.
Why the Long Jump?
While the triple jump remains his primary focus, Praveen’s entry in the long jump was a strategic move. The long jump demands strong approach speed, precise take-off, and explosive flight all elements that feed directly into triple jump performance.
His team, including coaches at the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS), has long emphasised multi-event preparation, especially in the early season. Competing in the long jump helps fine-tune his rhythm and approach without placing excessive load on the joints, which are more heavily taxed in the triple jump.
The outcome of this experiment couldn’t have been more positive not just a podium finish, but a performance that now ranks him third among Indian long jumpers this season.
Form Check Ahead of Bigger Goals
Praveen’s success in Spain came just weeks after he secured a silver medal in triple jump at the Asian Athletics Championships 2025 with a leap of 16.90m. While that mark was short of his personal best, it reaffirmed his standing as one of Asia’s best jumpers.
More importantly, Praveen is already qualified for the World Athletics Championships 2025 after jumping 17.37m at the Federation Cup earlier this year. With qualification out of the way, his focus is now on building rhythm, staying healthy, and using international meets to sharpen competitive edge.
Performances like the one in Spain serve as ideal checkpoints confirming that his speed and explosiveness are translating well, and that he can switch between events while maintaining high output.
More Than Just a Triple Jumper
This 7.86m leap moves Praveen into a rare category of Indian athletes who can potentially compete at the national level in both horizontal jumps. While long jump may not be a priority for him in championship settings, his growing ability in the event reflects his overall athletic development.
India has historically had specialists in either long jump or triple jump, but few have made a mark in both simultaneously. Praveen’s crossover performance adds depth to his skillset and gives Indian athletics a versatile weapon going forward.
Praveen is expected to continue his European training and competition tour, with more events on the World Athletics Continental Tour circuit lined up. While he will return focus to triple jump for major events, don’t be surprised to see his name pop up in more long jump competitions this season.
With World Championships and other international events on the horizon, the 2025 season could turn out to be a defining one for Praveen Chithravel not just as a triple jump specialist, but as one of India’s most complete horizontal jumpers.
In an Olympic sport defined by centimeters, Praveen Chithravel is leaping ahead and this time, he’s doing it in more ways than one.
