Sreeshankar wins second straight CWG long jump silver, makes history

Murali Sreeshankar became the first Indian long jumper to win medals at two successive Commonwealth Games after claiming silver with a best leap of 8.09 metres Thursday, completing an emotional comeback from a career-threatening knee injury.

The 27-year-old, who won silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, finished behind former world champion Tajay Gayle of Jamaica, who took gold with an 8.15-metre effort. Scotland's Stephen Mackenzie won bronze with 8.08 metres.

Sreeshankar's latest medal came after a ruptured patellar tendon in April 2024 forced him to undergo surgery and miss the Paris Olympics, raising doubts over whether he would return to his best.

"Very happy, very grateful for being here as well. Very grateful for being able to represent India at the global stage ever again. Two years ago, I didn't think that probably I'll be in Glasgow and represent my country," said Sreeshankar, who is coached by his father, S. Murali, a former triple jump athlete.

Sreeshankar, however, said he was disappointed at missing out on gold.

"I wanted to redeem the silver medal from Birmingham to gold. So, I am not satisfied with my performance. I have to keep improving my game, keep improving my skills," he said.

He said the performance would give him confidence ahead of the Asian Games in Japan.

"I have to work on my technique. But I feel that this is like a stepping stone, it will add confidence going ahead for the Asian Games," he said.

Competing in only his second Commonwealth Games after missing the 2018 edition because of emergency appendix surgery, Sreeshankar opened with an 8.03-metre jump before moving into the lead with his second attempt of 8.09 metres.

His lead was short-lived as Gayle responded with an 8.15-metre effort.

Sreeshankar then recorded two fouls while attempting to improve his mark before managing 7.94 metres in his fifth attempt.

The medal adds to an encouraging resurgence for the Kerala athlete, who has consistently crossed the 8-metre mark this year. He recorded a season-best 8.38 metres at the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar.

Before Sreeshankar, India's only Commonwealth Games long jump medallists were Suresh Babu, who won men's bronze in 1978, Anju Bobby George, who won women's bronze in 2002, and M Prajusha, who won women's silver in 2010.

The other Indian in the competition, Lokesh Sathyanathan, finished fifth with a best jump of 7.97 metres.