World Championships helped me realise I could compete with the best, says triple jumper Eldhose Paul | Commonwealth Games 2022 News – Times of India

KOCHI: In just a matter of days, triple jumper Eldhose Paul’s life has taken a turn for the better. From an unheralded triple jumper who took a last-ditch flight to compete in the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, to his return home as the golden star of Indian athletics from Birmingham Commonwealth Games, Eldhose has been living a dream.
Enjoying all the adulation that he is receiving on his return to India, Eldhose took time out to speak to TOI on his life-changing experience and his future plans.
Excerpts from the interview:
Take us through your gold-winning leap in Birmingham?
Abdulla Aboobacker and I train together. Our target was a 1-2 finish at the Commonwealth Games. I was determined not to put too much pressure on myself. I knew if I got my technique right, I could finish on top. And it was truly a great feeling when our dream came true.

You didn’t have your personal coach in Birmingham with you. So, did you and Aboobacker help each other out during training and competition?
We always used to complement each other, both during training and competitions. Birmingham was no different. Both of us have been jumping in the same range. We
always analyse each other’s jumps and point out the flaws and suggest methods to correct them. In CWG, Aboobacker suggested some changes to the runway after my initial jump. It helped me a lot.
You became the first Indian triple jumper to qualify for the final in the World Athletics Championship. Did the 9th-place finish in Eugene act as a confidence-booster for CWG?
Yes, it did. Eugene helped in proving to myself that I could compete with the best in the world. During competition, I could learn a lot just by observing the top triple jumpers during competition. Forget learning about their technique, even the way they warmed up was different. The ninth-place finish in my first big-ticket global athletics event was very satisfying. But more than that, Eugene Worlds was a huge learning experience for me.

So, you are keen to participate in more international competitions in the future?
Yes, that’s my desire and intent. It’s a different world (international competitions). If you compete with the best on a more consistent basis, you will improve yourself and I am sure I will become a far better triple-jumper than what I am now. We have received great support from the sports ministry and AFI. And I hope they arrange more international competitions and exposure trips for us.
What is your next target?
Every athlete dreams of an Olympic medal. I am no different. However, I know that I am miles away from coming anywhere close to an Olympic medal. That’s why I said that I wanted to improve myself as a triple-jumper. Next year, we have the Worlds in Budapest and Asian Games in Hangzhou. My initial target would be to win an Asian Games gold and improve my position in the worlds.

Has life changed for you after the Birmingham leap?
It certainly has. I am not used to all this attention I am receiving now. My life has always revolved around athletics, my family and my job. Now, I have to sign autographs, click selfies and fulfil interview requests! It’s quite hectic but I am getting used to it.
Is that the reason that your grandmother is complaining that you are not calling her that often now?
(Laughs!) Yes. She knows that I have won something big for my country and she is very happy. She wants me back home. But I have some commitments to fulfil before I go to my native place. I am looking forward to meeting her soon. This gold medal is for her.