CWG 2026: Sreeshankar Clinches Silver in Men’s Long Jump, Makes Historic Double

India's Murali Sreeshankar produced another memorable performance at the Commonwealth Games 2026, clinching the silver medal in the men's long jump with a best leap of 8.09m.

The Kerala athlete also created history by becoming the first Indian long jumper to win two Commonwealth Games medals, adding to the silver he secured at Birmingham 2022. Meanwhile, fellow Indian Lokesh Sathyanathan finished fifth with a best effort of 7.97m.

The 27-year-old delivered a composed performance at Glasgow, opening with a jump of 8.03m before improving to 8.09m on his second attempt. Although he briefly led the competition, former world champion Tajay Gayle of Jamaica responded with a winning jump of 8.15m to secure the gold medal.

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Host nation athlete Stephen Mackenzie claimed the bronze with a best leap of 8.08m, finishing just one centimetre behind Sreeshankar in a thrilling contest.

Sreeshankar Creates Commonwealth Games History

With his second consecutive Commonwealth Games silver medal, Sreeshankar etched his name into Indian athletics history. He became the first Indian athlete to win two Commonwealth Games medals in the long jump, surpassing the achievements of previous Indian medallists in the discipline.

Before his feat, India's Commonwealth Games long jump medallists were:

Suresh Babu – Men's Bronze (1978)
Anju Bobby George – Women's Bronze (2002)
M. Prajusha – Women's Silver (2010)
Murali Sreeshankar – Men's Silver (2022 & 2026)

The latest medal further strengthens Sreeshankar's legacy as one of India's finest long jumpers.

Emotional Comeback After Career-Threatening Injury

The silver medal carried special significance for Sreeshankar, who made a remarkable return after suffering a ruptured patellar tendon in April 2024. The injury forced him to undergo surgery and ruled him out of the Paris Olympics, leaving his sporting future uncertain.

Speaking after the competition, Sreeshankar expressed his gratitude for returning to the international stage.

"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. But thankful to God and I'm here winning a silver medal for my country yet again."

Despite the historic achievement, the Indian star admitted he was aiming for 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."

Looking ahead, he believes the result will boost his confidence before the upcoming Asian Games.

"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."

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Consistent Form Continues In 2026

Sreeshankar has enjoyed an impressive season, consistently clearing the eight-metre mark. Earlier this year, he registered a season's best jump of 8.38m at the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar, underlining his return to peak form.

Meanwhile, Lokesh Sathyanathan also impressed for India, finishing fifth after recording 7.97m in his opening attempt, narrowly missing out on a podium finish.

CWG 2026 Men's Long Jump Final Results