Murali Sreeshankar Aims for Greater Heights at Commonwealth Games
India’s star long jumper, Murali Sreeshankar, is optimistic about his future as he gears up for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. After overcoming a serious injury, the 27-year-old athlete feels that a significant performance is on the horizon.
Sreeshankar, who won a silver medal at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, has been finding his rhythm again this season after surgery in 2024. He recently matched his personal best of 8.38 meters at the Inter-State Championships in Bhubaneswar, marking a triumphant return to form.
Despite reaching this impressive mark, Sreeshankar believes he can do even better. “I feel there’s a big jump still in me,” he shared during a recent virtual meeting with the media. “Everyone was pleased with my 8.38-meter jump, but I think I have more to give. It was a good achievement post-surgery, but I believe there’s a greater jump coming.”
The athlete from Kerala reflected on the rehabilitation process, expressing confidence that he is now in better shape than before his injury. “My fitness levels are back to where they were, or even better. My speed has improved, and I’m jumping better. It’s just a matter of putting everything together,” he explained.
Sreeshankar’s return has also come at a time when men’s long jump in India is witnessing a remarkable rise, with several athletes now exceeding the eight-meter mark. “When I entered the Inter-State Championships, I was the fourth-ranked jumper in India. We now have multiple jumpers above 8.20 meters, with two even surpassing 8.30 meters,” he noted. “The standards of long jump in India have really improved.”
He highlighted the overall progress in Indian athletics this season, with many national records and personal bests being set in various events. Notably, Ancy Sojan broke Anju Bobby George’s 23-year-old women’s long jump record with a jump of 6.88 meters. Other achievements include Sarvesh Kushare clearing 2.31 meters in the high jump and Rohit Yadav throwing the javelin over 87 meters.
“If we look at the performance of Indian athletics this year, it might be the best we’ve ever seen,” Sreeshankar stated. “We’ve set several national records, and our performances are now at a global standard in many field events.”
With the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games scheduled closely together, Sreeshankar is focused on Glasgow, where he hopes to upgrade his medal from four years ago. “Last time, I won silver with a jump of 8.08 meters. This time, I’m feeling confident about changing the medal color,” he said.
Training in Poland has prepared him well for the conditions expected in Scotland. “I’m not setting limits on my jump. I trust the process, and when everything aligns, I believe a big jump is very possible,” he concluded.
