Top five long jumps by Asians in history

Jeswin Aldrin recently made news by breaking into the list.

Jeswin Aldrin created a new National record in the long jump registering a distance of 8.42m which enabled him to get inside the top five in Asia. Salman Al Khuwalidi of Saudi Arabia continues to hold on to the top spot registering 8.48m. Birmingham Games 2022 silver-medallist Murali Sreeshankar with a personal best of 8.36m (previous NR) occupies the tenth rank in Asia. 

5. Jeswin Aldrin - 8.42m

21-year-old Jeswin Aldrin has started the 2023 season on a great note creating National Records (indoor and outdoor). He started the season by winning the silver medal at the Asian Indoor Athletic Championships and in his second event (National Jumps meet) created a National Record at 8.42m. He broke the previous record held by Murali Sreeshankar (8.36m) and became the first Indian to breach the 8.40m mark. 

The progression since the World Athletic Championships has been encouraging for Indian fans. He registered 8.26m (previous personal best) twice last year. Jeswin won the gold medal at the 2022 National Games. He had success in the foreign meet claiming the top spot in the Fly series registering 8.12m. Having already qualified for the 2023 World Athletic Championships, the youngster shall look to perform consistently.  

4. Yuhao Shi - 8.43m

Yuhao Shi has been performing well in the Asian circuit for the past few years. Shi set an Asian Junior Record of 8.30 m at the Chinese junior championships in 2016. This performance helped him gain automatic qualification for the 2017 World Athletic Championships where he finished a credible sixth. He attained major success at the 2018 Asian Indoor Athletic Championships claiming the gold medal registering 8.16m.

Apart from participating in the long jump, Shi has tried his hand at several other events like the 60m,100m, and triple jump. He occupies the fourth spot in the long jump event (8.43m) registered in China in 2018.

3. Jianan Wang - 8.47m

The Chinese athlete shook everyone by winning the gold medal at the 2022 World Athletic Championships, in Eugene. Jianan Wang beat favourite Olympic gold medallist Tentouglou to claim the top spot. Wang started his career competing in heptathlon and decathlon but made a shift to the long jump in a short time. In 2018, Wang won the gold medal in the long jump at the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. He went on to equal the National Record with a personal best of 8.47m. The reigning world champion also won a bronze medal at the 2015 World Athletic Championships.

2. Jinzhe Li - 8.47m

Jinzhe Li created a Chinese National Record in 2014, registering a distance of 8.47m and held on to the record for four years. He cleared eight metres for the first time at the 2009 Chinese Championships in May, where his jump of 8.08m brought him his first national title. Li was selected to represent China in the long jump at the 2009 World Athletic Championships and narrowly missed out on qualification into the final. He claimed the gold medal at the 2014 Asian Games registering 8.01m.

1. Salman Al Khuwalidi - 8.48m

Salman Al Khuwalidi from Saudi Arabia created the new Asian record in Sotteville-les-Rouenen, France in 2006. He is a three-time Asian champion, having won the Asian Indoor Athletic Championships in 2004 and 2008, as well as the 2007 Asian Athletic Championships. At the global level, he won bronze medals at the 2006 IAAF World Cup and IAAF World Indoor Athletic Championships. 

Salman continues to hold on to the top spot for 17 long years and has been one of the finest athletes from Saudi Arabia.