World Athletics U20: 17-Year-Old Shaili Singh Wins Silver In Long Jump; Misses Gold Medal By One Centimetre

India's talented long jumper Shaili Singh won the silver medal in women's long jump event at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Nairobi, Kenya, on Sunday.

Congratulating the ace athlete on her feat, Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur tweeted, "Shaili Singh has won the Silver ! World Athletics U20 Championships,Nairobi A personal best, she registered a jump of 6.59m in the long jump event final. • Shaili trains under Robert Bobby, the husband of Indian veteran Anju Bobby George, at the SAI NCE, Bangalore."

The 17-year-old Shaili, coached by former jumper Bobby George and his wife Anju Bobby George, had to be satisfied with the silver medal despite a brilliant performance in Nairobi during which she improved on her personal best twice, once to qualify for the final (6.48) and then in the final -- 6.59 meters.

Shaili had taken the lead with a leap of 6.59m on her third jump but Sweden's Maja Askag cleared 6.60 on her fourth jump and took the gold medal as Shaili fouled her next two attempts and could manage only 6.37 metres in the sixth and final jump. Maja had also won the women's triple jump gold earlier in the championships.

Saili's silver medal is the third medal for India in the World Athletics U20 Championships 2021 adding to the silver won by Amit Khatri and the bronze by the 4x400 Mixed Relay team.

With IANS Inputs