Indian long jump received a timely boost ahead of the upcoming competition season as national record holder Jeswin Aldrin and Federation Cup champion David P both cleared the coveted 8-metre mark at the Tamil Nadu State Trials.
Jeswin produced a best jump of 8.03m to secure the men’s long jump title, while David finished a close second with 8.02m. Although the performances will not count as official marks, they serve as an encouraging sign for two of India’s leading horizontal jumpers.
For Jeswin, the result is particularly significant. The 23-year-old has endured a difficult period over the past two years, battling injuries that disrupted his momentum after his breakthrough 2023 season. He underwent knee surgery and spent much of 2024 and early 2025 working his way back to full fitness.
His jump of 8.03m marks the first time he has crossed the 8-metre barrier in competition since his peak form, providing a major confidence boost as he looks to return to the international stage.
Jeswin remains India’s national record holder with a leap of 8.42m, achieved at the Indian Open Jumps Competition in Bellary in 2023. That mark not only broke the long-standing national record but also briefly placed him among the world’s leading long jumpers that season. He went on to represent India at both the World Championships and the Paris Olympics, though injuries prevented him from reproducing his best form on the global stage.
Meanwhile, David P continued his impressive rise. The Federation Cup 2025 champion demonstrated remarkable consistency, registering 8.02m in his third attempt before backing it up with another 8.00m jump in the sixth and final round.
The fact that two Indian jumpers exceeded 8 metres on the same day highlights the growing depth in the men’s long jump event. While the marks will not be officially recognized, they indicate that both athletes are moving in the right direction ahead of the national season and international qualification events.
With Jeswin rediscovering his rhythm and David continuing to build momentum, Indian athletics could have multiple contenders capable of challenging the 8-metre barrier consistently in the months ahead.