Praveen Chithravel has established himself as India's leading men's triple jumper through a combination of consistency and record-breaking performances.The national record holder heads to the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow after narrowly missing a medal in Birmingham four years ago.Having since added medals at the Asian Games, Asian Championships and World University Games, the 25-year-old arrives as one of India's medal contenders in the field events. Early daysBorn in a village in Tamil Nadu's Thanjavur district, Praveen grew up in a modest household. His father worked as a daily wage farm labourer, while his mother managed the family at home.His talent first came to light when he won gold at the inaugural Khelo India School Games in 2018. Training under coach Indira Suresh at the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu's Centre of Excellence in Chennai, he quickly developed into one of the country's brightest young jumpers.Later that year, Praveen made history by winning bronze in the men's triple jump at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, becoming the first Indian athlete to win a medal in the event at the competition.Rising through the ranksThe Youth Olympic medal opened new opportunities.Working with Cuban coach Yoandri Betanzos helped refine his technique as he transitioned into senior international competition.His breakthrough at the elite level came in 2023 when he won silver at the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships with a national indoor record before improving the Indian outdoor national record to 17.37m. He later claimed bronze at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, establishing himself among Asia's leading triple jumpers.Praveen also represented India at the Paris Olympics in 2024 and competed at the World Athletics Indoor Championships, gaining valuable experience against the world's best athletes.Chasing consistencyOne of the defining moments of Praveen's career came at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, where he finished fourth with…
This report has been adapted by the PurePlay Sports Desk from coverage by The Hindu Sportstar, Khel Now, The Bridge, NDTV Sports.