CWG 2026: Praveen Chithravel Misses Gold by Just 14cm, Selva Prabhu Claims Bronze as India Repeat Historic Triple Jump Double

Glasgow, Aug 1: India once again stamped its authority in the men’s triple jump at the Commonwealth Games, with Praveen Chithravel winning the silver medal and Selva Prabhu Thirumaran clinching bronze in a memorable double podium finish on Saturday (August 1) at Glasgow 2026.

National record holder Praveen Chithravel came agonisingly close to winning the Commonwealth title, finishing just 14 centimetres behind Jamaica’s Jordan Scott, who struck gold with a best jump of 16.72m. Praveen’s best effort of 16.58m earned him the silver medal, while NCAA champion Selva Prabhu secured bronze with a leap of 16.52m.

The result marked the second consecutive Commonwealth Games where India had two athletes on the podium in the men’s triple jump, matching the feat achieved by Eldhose Paul and Abdulla Aboobacker, who won gold and silver respectively at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

While history repeated itself for Indian athletics, the medals represented two contrasting journeys-redemption for Praveen and a breakthrough for Selva.

Praveen Completes Redemption Story

For Praveen Chithravel, the silver medal was a reward for years of perseverance. The Tamil Nadu athlete had narrowly missed the podium at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, a disappointment that became one of the biggest motivations in his career. Four years later, he returned to the Commonwealth stage a much-improved athlete and came within touching distance of gold.

Praveen pushed Jordan Scott throughout the competition before eventually settling for silver by the slimmest of margins-just 14 centimetres. The medal further strengthens the resume of one of India’s finest horizontal jumpers.

Born in a village in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, Praveen comes from humble beginnings, with his father working as a daily wage farm labourer and his mother a homemaker. His athletics journey took off after winning gold at the inaugural Khelo India School Games in 2018 before he scripted history later that year by becoming India’s first Youth Olympic Games medallist in the triple jump with a bronze medal.

Under coach Indira Suresh, and later at the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS), Bellary, Praveen steadily developed into India’s premier triple jumper. He won silver at the 2023 Asian Indoor Championships, set the national record of 17.37m, claimed bronze at the Asian Games, and represented India at the Paris Olympics 2024.

His consistency continued with silver medals at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships and the 2025 FISU World University Games, before adding the Commonwealth Games silver to his growing medal collection.

Selva Announces Himself Among the Elite

If Praveen’s medal was about redemption, Selva Prabhu Thirumaran’s bronze marked the arrival of India’s next big triple jump star. The 21-year-old from Madurai, Tamil Nadu, has long been regarded as one of the country’s brightest athletics prospects.

He first caught international attention after winning silver at the 2022 World Athletics U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia. In 2023, he became the first Indian athlete to receive the Asian Athletics Association’s Best Asian Under-20 Male Athlete of the Year award and also broke the Indian U20 national record with a leap of 16.79m.

Competing for Kansas State University in the United States, Selva enjoyed a sensational 2026 season. He registered a personal best of 17.05m while finishing runner-up at the NCAA Division I Indoor Championships before winning the prestigious NCAA Division I Outdoor title in Eugene, becoming one of the few Indian triple jumpers to breach the coveted 17-metre mark.

He carried that form into Glasgow, where his best effort of 16.52m secured the bronze medal and the first major senior international medal of his career.

India’s Triple Jump Legacy Continues

India has emerged as one of the strongest nations in Commonwealth Games triple jump over the past decade. At Birmingham 2022, Eldhose Paul and Abdulla Aboobacker scripted history by becoming the first Indian pair to finish first and second in the same athletics event at the Commonwealth Games.

Four years later, although the medals were silver and bronze instead of gold and silver, India’s dominance in the event remained intact.

Praveen Chithravel and Selva Prabhu once again ensured that two Indian athletes stood on the podium, highlighting the remarkable depth the country has built in the discipline.

Both athletes have benefited from sustained support under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and government-backed international exposure programmes. Praveen received assistance for overseas training and competitions across Europe, including pre-Olympic camps in Poland and Japan, while Selva has been supported through equipment grants and participation in global competitions during his rise through the junior ranks.

Their performances in Glasgow underline the success of India’s long-term investment in athletics and reinforce the country’s status as a powerhouse in the men’s triple jump.

With the Asian Games on the horizon, Praveen and Selva have shown that India’s rich tradition in the event is set to continue for years to come.