Mattia Furlani grants encore in Ostrava and confirms world leader

Another strong performance for Mattia Furlani. The long jump world champion remains undefeated in this start of the indoor season, centering his second consecutive victory thanks to an excellent 8.30, a measure that confirms the 8.33 obtained in his Paris debut and keeps him at the top of the world seasonal lists. The Italian preceded Greek Olympic champion Miltiadis Tentoglou (8.23) and Bulgarian Bozhidar Saraboyukov (8.21), signing the decisive jump in the fifth round: the same attempt that earned him world gold in Tokyo and the same measure with which he won the indoor world title in Nanjing last year.

“Winning today was crucial: it was the most important indoor meeting of the season,” Furlani explained. “I am really satisfied, it was a beautiful competition with fantastic opponents. A result that gives me great charge for the future. I will be right back on the platform in Metz on Sunday to continue to improve”.

The competition had not started in the best of ways for the Gold Flames’ bearer, with two jumps under eight meters (7.95 and 7.81), before the 8.21 in the third round, tied by Saraboyukov. The Bulgarian momentarily leapt to the lead thanks to the second best measure, but Furlani immediately retaliated with 8.22. In the fourth round Tentoglou enters the scene, and with 8.23 he definitively ignites the challenge. The decisive blow came in the fifth jump: Furlani landed at 8.30, although leaving several centimeters on the batting board. The rivals’ last assault does not change the hierarchies. A smile that is worth double 45 days before the World Indoor Championships in Torun (March 20-22).