Murali Sreeshankar secures long jump silver at Commonwealth Games

By Rohit Verma — 29 July 2026 — 3 min read

Murali Sreeshankar of India secured a silver medal in the men’s long jump event at the Commonwealth Games 2026. His best leap measured 8.09m in a closely contested final held on Thursday. Sreeshankar initially led the competition after the first three rounds, but Tajay Gayle of Jamaica ultimately claimed gold with a jump of 8.15m in the fourth round. Scotland‘s Stephen Mackenzie earned the bronze medal with a best jump of 8.08m.

This medal marks another significant achievement for India‘s athletics contingent at the Games in Glasgow. Sreeshankar’s performance was particularly notable given the conditions, including a wet track at the Scotstoun Stadium.

Early lead and competitive rounds

Sreeshankar began the final strongly, achieving his best mark of 8.09m with his opening jump. This effort placed him at the top of the standings for the initial three rounds of the competition. Mackenzie remained close behind with his 8.08m jump, while Gayle was in third position on countback despite matching Mackenzie’s distance. Another Indian athlete, Lokesh, was also in contention, sitting fourth midway through the event with a jump of 7.97m.

The competition intensified in the fourth round when Gayle executed a superb leap of 8.15m, taking the lead. Sreeshankar responded with what appeared to be a significant jump, but it was ruled a foul by a narrow margin. His father and coach, Murali, later suggested that the fouled jump would have comfortably exceeded 8.20m, indicating how close Sreeshankar came to regaining the lead.

Heading into the sixth and final round, Sreeshankar still had an opportunity to surpass Gayle. Mackenzie, who jumped before Sreeshankar, recorded 8.06m on his final attempt, confirming his bronze medal with his earlier 8.08m mark. Sreeshankar’s final attempt measured 7.97m, meaning his initial 8.09m jump remained his best of the competition. Gayle, having already secured the gold, did not improve on his final attempt but maintained his winning position.

Sreeshankar’s journey and return to form

Sreeshankar’s silver medal performance follows his previous silver at the event four years prior. He came close to securing gold, which would have made him the first Indian long jumper to achieve this at the Commonwealth Games. Despite missing out on gold, his performance was deemed impressive, especially considering the conditions. The 27-year-old athlete has shown a strong return to form following a significant injury.

In 2024, Sreeshankar suffered a career-threatening injury, rupturing his patellar tendon in his left knee, which kept him out of competition for the entire year. This injury caused considerable anxiety for him and his family, who relocated from Palakkad to Thiruvananthapuram to support his recovery. His father and coach, Murali, noted that Sreeshankar began training slowly in January of the following year, with athletics training resuming in April.

Sreeshankar’s return saw him consistently leaping past the eight-metre mark. He had previously achieved a personal best of 8.41m at the National inter-state meet, a mark later surpassed by Jeswin Aldrin‘s 8.42m, which stands as the national record. Before the current Commonwealth Games, Sreeshankar expressed confidence in his physical condition, stating that his jumping abilities had improved and he was able to propel himself effectively.

The athlete’s long-term aspirations include a medal at the Commonwealth Games and the Asiads, with an ultimate goal set for LA 2028. He believes that once all elements align, he will achieve a “big jump.”

Other Indian performances

Lokesh, India‘s second finalist in the men’s long jump, finished in fifth place. His best effort of 7.97m came in the early rounds, and he was unable to improve upon this mark in his subsequent attempts. This marked an encouraging debut for Lokesh at the Commonwealth Games.

In the women’s shot put final, veteran shot putter Manpreet Kaur missed out on a podium finish. She recorded a throw of 17.47m. Canada‘s Sarah Mitton secured the gold medal with a throw of 19.88m, while Lloydricia Cameron edged out Kaur for the bronze with 17.87m.

The long jump final showcased a strong performance from Sreeshankar, who maintained a leading position for the initial part of the competition.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com