New Delhi, September 10: High jumper Tejaswin Shankar has conveyed his inability to compete in the IAAF World Championships to be held in Doha from September 27.
In a communication to the Athletics Federation of India on Tuesday, the US-based Tejaswin Shankar said he was in his off-season and not in jumping shape yet and hence declined to compete in Doha.
Though he missed the qualifying standard (2.30m) by two centimeters, the 20-year-old Tejaswin Shankar made the grade by virtue of his being among the IAAF Top Performance List as he is ranked 39th in the world. The World Championships can have a maximum of 32 competitors in high jump.
“We would have liked him to compete in Doha and gain the experience of the big stage, but we respect his decision to decline the invitation. We hope he will train hard and remain injury-free and be a part of the Indian squad in the Olympic Games in Tokyo next year,” said AFI President Adille J. Sumariwalla.
