Abdulla Aboobacker came second in men’s triple jump at the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham on Sunday. He and his fellow Kerala athlete Eldhose Paul led India’s historic 1-2 finish. 

While Paul produced his best effort of 17.03m in his third attempt, Aboobacker was not behind much as he finished at 17.02m, which he managed in his fifth attempt.

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Jah-Nhal Perinchief of Bermuda won the bronze with his best jump of 16.92m.

India has won four triple jump medals in the past editions but this is the first time two athletes from the country have got podium finishes.

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Mohinder Singh Gill had won a bronze and a silver in 1970 and 1974 editions while Renjith Maheswary and Arpinder Singh had finished third in 2010 and 2014 editions.

Who is Abdulla Aboobacker? 

Aboobacker, who hails from Kerala, is a 26-year-old Indian triple jumper. On Sunday, he won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games 2022. 

Aboobacker, who has been a popular name in the domestic circuit, bagged the gold medal at the Indian Military Services Championships in Pune in September 2019. He also won silver in the Indian Open Championships and Federation Cup Championships in Patiala. 

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In May 2022, Aboobacker breached the 17m mark by jumping 17.19m in the men’s triple jump at the Indian Grand Prix. He won the gold medal and earned himself the qualification for the World Athletics Championships.

Achievements:

Gold Medal Indian Grand Prix, Bhubaneshwar May 2022

Gold medal Inter Services Championships, Bhubaneshwar

Only third Indian to cross the 17m mark in long jump

Commonwealth Games 2022 silver medallist

“Many congratulations to Eldhose Paul & Abdulla Aboobacker who created history and made the country proud by winning Gold 🥇 and silver🥈in Men’s Triple Jump at #CommonwealthGames2022,” Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju tweeted. 

“Congratulations to the duo of Eldhose Paul & Abdulla Aboobacker for winning gold and silver for India at the CWG in Men’s triple jump. The boys have scripted history for Indian athletics with their immaculate display today. The whole nation is proud of their heroics,” JP Nadda, BJP’s National President, said on Twitter.