Indian triple jumper Praveen Chithravel claimed the silver medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow on 2 August, recording a best leap of 16.58m to finish behind Jamaica's Jordan Scott. While relieved to have secured a podium finish, the 25-year-old admitted he remains 'a little disappointed' with his performance and has already shifted focus to the Asian Games in Aichi, Nagoya, Japan.

A redemption after Birmingham heartbreak

Chithravel's silver in Glasgow carries particular weight given what happened four years ago. At the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, he missed the podium by just three centimetres, finishing fourth in what was one of the narrowest near-misses in recent Indian athletics history. This time, competing in cool and challenging conditions, he ensured there would be no repeat of that anguish.

'Winning a medal at a major competition is very important to me, so I'm glad to have secured one. I am happy to win the silver, especially after finishing fourth last time, though performance-wise, I'm still a little disappointed,' Chithravel said.

Medal dedicated to family and coaches

In an emotional moment after the event, Chithravel dedicated his silver to those closest to him. 'I would like to dedicate this silver medal to my family, my coaches, and my friends. My father is my biggest inspiration to do well; he has always encouraged me and reminded me of my potential,' he said.

The dedication underlines the personal stakes behind every major competition for Chithravel, who has spoken previously about the sacrifices his family made to support his athletics career.

Asian Games gold firmly in the crosshairs

With the Commonwealth Games behind him, Chithravel's attention has turned immediately to the Asian Games, where he won a bronze medal at the previous edition. He is targeting a step up to gold this time around.

'Next, my focus is on the Asian Games. I won a bronze last time, but this time I'm targeting the gold. Supported by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) and the Sports Authority of India (SAI), I am heading to the Czech Republic for a two-week training camp. After that, we'll return to India before heading to Japan for the Asian Games,' he said.

National record holder with room to grow

Chithravel holds the Indian men's triple jump national record of 17.37m, first set in Cuba in 2023 and equalled at the Federation Cup in Kochi the following year. His 16.92m effort at the inter-state athletics championships in June 2026 — which secured his Asian Games berth — shows he is capable of significantly better than his Glasgow mark.

Notably, Chithravel failed to progress beyond the qualification round at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, managing a best of 16.74m. The gap between his national record and recent competition performances suggests he is still working back to his peak, making the Czech Republic training camp a critical block before Nagoya.

If Chithravel can approach his 17.37m national record form at the Asian Games, a gold medal is a realistic ambition — and one that would mark the full arc of his rise from Birmingham near-miss to continental champion.