Appendicitis ends long-jumper Sreeshankar's Commonwealth Games dreams

Sreeshankar, who had won gold in men's long jump with an effort of 7.99m at the Federation Cup National Championships in Patiala, is set to be operated in his hometown of Palakkad in Kerala.

Representational image of a long-jump pit in an athletics stadium (Photo: Twitter)

New Delhi: Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) might be trying to get his late entry in the Commonwealth Games, (CWG) but long-jumper M Sreeshankar's chances of taking part in the multi-sporting event got over after he was diagnosed with appendicitis.

Sreeshankar, who had won gold in men's long jump with an effort of 7.99m on March 6 at the Federation Cup National Championships in Patiala, is set to be operated in his hometown of Palakkad in Kerala.

The 18-year-old engineering student was named in the Indian track and field team for the April 4-15 CWG in Gold Coast but his participation in the Games had remained uncertain as his entry was sent after the deadline of March 7.

The IOA said that the official communication of selection of Sreeshankar - as well as of two more athletes - was not sent on time while the AFI claimed that it had done so before deadline.

The Chef-de-Mission of the Indian contingent Vikram Sisodia, who has reached Gold Coast, is learnt to have been pursuing the case of these athletes with the Games organisers.

But even if Sreeshankar gets a late clearance for a CWG participation, he will not be able to participate now.

"Sreeshankar complained of pain in his stomach area yesterday and there was vomiting also, so we consulted a doctor today. There was a scan done and the doctor advised for an immediate surgery to remove his appendix. He will undergo surgery today," Sreeshankar's father S Murali told PTI from Palakkad.

"We are fortunate that he had this medical problem here and not in Australia. Had he been there in Australia, you never know what would have happened. Here we can fully take care of him," he added.