Indian long jumper M Sreeshankar will have to miss the Commonwealth Games next week after he was diagnosed with appendicitis.
The 19-year-old’s participation was anyway in doubt after the Athletics Federation of India failed to register his and fellow jumper Siddharth Yadav’s name in the entry list for the Gold Coast Games on time.
However, even if the organisers grant him a late entry, it appears his health will not allow him to compete.
“Sreeshankar complained of pain in his stomach area [on Saturday] and there was vomiting also, so we consulted a doctor [on Sunday], the athlete’s father S Murali told PTI. “There was a scan done and the doctor advised for an immediate surgery to remove his appendix. He will undergo surgery [on Sunday].”
He added, “We are fortunate that he had this medical problem here and not in Australia. Had he been there in Australia you never know what would have happened. Here we can fully take care of him.”
Sreeshankar, who had won the gold in men’s long jump with an effort of 7.99 metres on March 6 at the Federation Cup National Championships at Patiala, is set to be operated at his home town of Palakkad in Kerala, PTI reported.
The engineering student was named in the Indian track-and-field team for the CWG but his participation had remained uncertain as his entry was sent after the deadline of March 7.