One and done: Murali Sreeshankar qualifies for long jump final, sparks medal hopes

It was a sensational start to Murali Sreeshankar’s Commonwealth Games campaign in Glasgow. The 27-year-old long jumper produced a textbook performance, clearing 8.01m in his first attempt to break the automatic qualification threshold of 8.00m. On a day when Indian athletics fans were shocked by the early exit of Gurindervir Singh in the 100m heats, Sreeshankar provided instant redemption. (Commonwealth Games Update)

After securing a place in the final, he saved his energy and stayed back on the apron to cheer on compatriot Lokesh Sathyanathan, who also booked his final spot with a jump of 7.77m.

The stage is now set for a July 29 blockbuster. Jamaica’s Tajay Gayle, who led the qualifiers with a jump of 8.10m and boasts a season’s best of 8.37m, is his main threat alongside St. Vincent and the Grenadines Uroy Ryan (8.04 m).

WATCH SREESHANKAR’S JUMP

Four years after settling for silver in Birmingham, a fully restored, battle-tested Sreeshankar now has gold squarely in his sights. Meanwhile, Lokesh also has a personal best of 8.21m and will be hoping to push that on Wednesday.

It was a definitive statement of prowess and intent for Sreeshankar. The road back to this stage was paved with resilience. His rise began at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where he announced himself on the global stage with a brilliant silver medal. A fortnight later, he cemented his status among the elite by winning another silver at the Asian Games in Hangzhou in October 2023, establishing himself as a medal contender for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Then came heartbreak. Just months before the Paris Games, Sreeshankar suffered a serious career-threatening knee injury during normal training. The tear required major surgery and a painfully long rehabilitation process. Forced to watch the Paris Games from the sidelines, his Olympic dreams on hold, Sreeshankar retreated into a grueling recovery routine. Many questioned whether he could ever regain the explosive lane speed and jump off the board that defined his career.

Glasgow provides the definitive answer. His jump of 8.01 m in qualifying was effortless, but it is built on months of systematic reconstruction. Crucially, Sreeshankar enters Wednesday’s final holding the world record in the field – 8.38m the best set earlier this year, proving his rehabilitation was not just about returning to competition, but also returning to the top of the podium.

– The end

Issued by:

Akshay Ramesh

Published on:

27 Jul 2026 18:33 IST