Zango, Triki Advance In Men’s Triple Jump

Burkina Faso triple jumper Hugues Fabrice Zango and Algeria’s Yasser Mohamed Triki are both in the finals of men’s triple jump at the Tokyo Games after contrasting performances in qualifying at the Olympic Stadium on Tuesday.

Zango, who is the world indoor record holder in the triple jump, was almost out after failing to achieve 17m, but with a best of 16.83m, the Burkinabe sneaked as 12th overall and very last to be qualified to the final.

He made the jump in his first attempt and went on to register 16.46m and 16.37m respectively but survived the scare to qualify as one of best performers.

Algeria’s Triki, who grabbed silver in 2017 Summer Universiade, needed three jumps to achieve 17.05m, finishing third in his qualifying group and 5^th overall.

The reigning African Games long jump champion, who is a graduate of American University of Texas A& M, launched the massive jump after 16.75m and 16.67m in the  other two attempts.

Burkina Faso will now be banking on Zango  for the first medal, as in January  this year he made history by becoming the first man on earth to triple jump over 18 metres indoors with a 18.07m effort in Aubiere, France.

His coach Tamgho is one of only six men, including Edwards, Taylor and Claye, to jump over 18 metres outdoors.

Zango is currently a student taking electrical engineering at a university in Bethune, close to Lille, in northern France.

 Photo Credit:Reuters