Indian triple-jumper Selva Prabhu Thirumaran on Monday turned the primary Indian ever to be named “Best Asian Under-20 Male Athlete of the Year” by Asian Athletics Association (AAA). Selva, 18, gained silver on the World U20 Athletics Championships in Colombia final yr, the most recent in a collection of worldwide podium performances by India’s jumpers.

Selva obtained the award through the AAA’s fiftieth anniversary celebration in Bangkok, the place the 2023 Asian Athletics Championships are as a consequence of start on Wednesday.

Who is Selva Prabhu?

Selva, from a farming household in Madurai, is at the moment pursuing a bachelor’s diploma in English Literature in Trichy. He was described as a “soft-spoken, hardworking boy who’s fully dedicated to the sport” by C. Latha, secretary of the Tamil Nadu Athletic Association.

What is his profession’s largest achievement?

His historic silver final yr on the World U20 Athletics Championships in Colombia, the place he produced a greatest soar of 16.15m.

How’s his profession been to this point?

Selva’s present private greatest is 16.78m, which ranks him #9 on the all-time Indian record. He ranks #5 amongst present triple jumpers, with Praveen Chithravel main the charts [17.37m]. He’s one among India’s most promising athletes and has excelled on the junior stage. He re-wrote the junior nationwide file with a 16.79m soar whereas profitable the Venizelos-Chania International meet in Greece.

NEW NATIONAL RECORD ��#TeamIIS athlete Selva Prabhu creates a brand new Junior ���� file with a soar of 16.79m on the Venizelia Chania, held in Greece. ⚡️

The earlier file (16.63m) was additionally held by a #TeamIIS athlete Arpinder Singh. ��#TripleJump #CraftingVictories pic.twitter.com/8AMQLcaEMA

– Inspire Institute of Sport (@IIS_Vijayanagar) May 28, 2023

He’s additionally gained gold medals on the 2022 Khelo India Youth Games and the U20 Federation Cup and silver on the Inter-University Championships and the Khelo India University Games.

Where does he practice?

Selva trains underneath Cuban Olympian Yoandri Betanzos on the Inspire Institute of Sports in Bellary. Selva’s coaching companions are India’s two greatest jumpers – Jeswin Aldrin, who holds the nationwide file for lengthy soar, and Praveen Chithravel, who’s India’s #1 triple jumper.

What’s subsequent for Selva?

Currently ranked 39 on the earth, he has an outdoor shot at qualifying for the senior World Athletics Championships this yr (the highest 36 make the lower). However, since solely three athletes can compete from a single nation, Selva will both must rack up extra rating or obtain the qualification mark [17.20m] to pip Eldhose Paul to the third spot.