Background
Praveen Chithravel was born in Tamil Nadu on June 5, 2001, and came into athletics through jumping events before specialising in the triple jump. He studied at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology in Bhubaneswar. Chithravel has trained under Cuban coach Yoandri Betanzos and developed into one of India’s leading triple jumpers. He won bronze at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games and the 2022 Asian Games, and holds the Indian national record of 17.37m, set in 2023.
Breakthrough and records
His breakthrough came at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, where he jumped 16.68m in the triple jump — winning bronze and securing his first major senior international medal. He also holds the national record of 17.37m, set at the Federation Cup in Kochi in 2025. The mark equalled his own national record and took him beyond the World Championships qualifying standard. Chithravel has become one of India’s most consistent 17-metre triple jumpers.
Current season
The 2026 season opened with a 16.78m second-place finish at the Indian Open Jumps Competition in Bengaluru. He improved to 17.08m at the National Senior Athletics Federation Competition in Ranchi, winning the triple jump with a wind-assisted? No — the mark was legal, with a -0.9m/s wind. Exempted from the Indian Athletics Final Series, he has focused on final preparation. He is now preparing for the triple jump at the Asian Games in September.
In their own words
“I was in good shape this season. Everyone supports me… but I keep losing, I keep losing,” — Praveen Chithravel, speaking to NNIS Sports, September 2025, after finishing 15th in the triple jump qualification at the World Championships with a best effort of 16.74m and missing out on the final.
