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- Murali Sreeshankar won silver in the men's long jump at CWG 2026.
- Two years after a career-threatening injury, he made a remarkable comeback.
- Sreeshankar became the first Indian long jumper to win two Commonwealth Games medals.
Murali Sreeshankar's silver medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026 was more than just another podium finish. The Indian long jumper overcame a career-threatening injury to claim silver with a best jump of 8.09m in Glasgow.
In doing so, he became the first Indian long jumper to win two Commonwealth Games medals, adding another historic achievement to his name.
Just over two years ago, Sreeshankar faced the biggest setback of his career. Doctors feared he might never compete again after he suffered a complete rupture of his patellar tendon.
On Wednesday, however, the 27-year-old proved his doubters wrong by returning to the Commonwealth Games podium with another silver medal.
From Career-Threatening Injury to Commonwealth Games Podium
In April 2024, Sreeshankar's career came to a sudden halt after he suffered a complete rupture of the patellar tendon, an injury often regarded as a nightmare for long jumpers.
The setback forced him to undergo surgery, ruled him out of the Paris Olympics, and cast serious doubt over whether he would ever return to elite competition.
Recalling the darkest phase of his career after winning silver in Glasgow, Sreeshankar dedicated his medal to those who had written him off.
"Everyone who said that I would not be jumping ever again in my career. This medal is for you," he exclaimed.
He then revealed just how severe the injury had been.
"It was a combined effort from a lot of people to make the impossible, possible. If you have a patella tendon rupture, like completely torn off. Patella tendon is the bread and butter for every jumper.
That is why it is called the jumper's knee. Every jumper has an inflammation there. That's what happened to TJ as well. But mine was torn off. The doctors initially told me that my career was done. But the surgery went well, the rehab went well, and here I am," Sreeshankar explained.
Battling Self-Doubt and Defying Medical Predictions
Even before arriving in Glasgow, Sreeshankar had admitted that the mental battle was as demanding as the physical recovery.
There were moments when he questioned whether he would ever return to the runway, especially after several doctors told him that a comeback from such an injury was highly unlikely.
"There was a lot of self-doubt. Many doctors believed my career was over. People hardly make it back with such an injury. Yet when I went to Qatar for my surgery, they were confident of stitching me back and getting me on track in six months, but also said it all depended on my body thereafter."
His recovery became a story of resilience, combining world-class medical care, months of rehabilitation, and relentless determination to return to competition.
History Made, But Gold Still Slips Away
Sreeshankar's best effort of 8.09m secured the silver medal behind Jamaica's Tajay Gayle (8.15m), while Scotland's Stephen Mackenzie (8.08m) settled for bronze.
Although the result etched his name into Commonwealth Games history as India's first-ever double medallist in men's long jump, Sreeshankar admitted he walked away with mixed emotions.
He felt the gold medal was within reach. "Last time I was very happy winning the silver medal. This time I am not that happy, because I knew that I had a big jump in me. There was a very good jump that got fouled by the smallest of margins."
Asian Games Now the Next Big Target
Despite the disappointment of narrowly missing gold, Sreeshankar believes Glasgow has laid the foundation for even bigger achievements.
The Kerala athlete has already crossed the eight-metre mark consistently this season and now has his sights firmly set on the Asian Games, where he hopes to convert his comeback into another major international medal.
"I am just grateful to represent my country. Thank you to God Almighty, thank you to the people that supported me. Better performances have to follow. I have to really up my game. I have to jump really far to win a medal in Asian Games for my country," he concluded.