Selva Prabhu: Bronze Despite Food Poisoning, the Indian triple jumper returned from the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with a medal but a lingering sense of what might have been. The Tamil Nadu athlete believes a stomach illness severely hampered his performance, costing him a genuine shot at the gold medal. Selva Prabhu secured bronze with a leap of 16.52m, finishing behind fellow Indian Praveen Chithravel (16.58m) and Scotland’s Jordon Scott (16.72m), who took the top honours.
Reflecting on the final, Selva Prabhu expressed his frustration, stating that a jump close to his personal best of 17.05m would have secured the title. I wish I should have gotten that gold. I was really hoping for gold but what can be done when the competition begins, there is illness and food poisoning, he told PTI after arriving home. Despite the setback, the athlete highlighted his mental resilience, saying he decided to push himself regardless of the physical discomfort he was enduring.
The 22-year-old is now focused on the future, aiming to qualify for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan. He emphasised a step-by-step approach rather than setting his sights solely on a specific medal. I live each day. Each day requires a new performance. You just cannot target a gold like that, he said, adding that his immediate goal is securing qualification for the continental event. He also plans to refine his approach run to maintain consistency.
In conclusion, while the food poisoning in Glasgow was a cruel twist of fate, Selva Prabhu’s bronze medal is a testament to his strong character. His focus now shifts to recovery and preparation, with the Asian Games serving as his next major target. If he can maintain his health, his consistency suggests that a gold medal is well within his reach on a bigger stage.