GLASGOW — Indian long jumper Murali Sreeshankar etched his name into the annals of national track and field history on Wednesday night, securing a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow. With this achievement, the 27-year-old became the first Indian athlete ever to win two Commonwealth Games medals in the long jump event.

Sreeshankar, who previously claimed silver at the 2022 Birmingham Games, registered a best attempt of 8.09 metres to seal his spot on the podium. The victory serves as a powerful symbol of resilience, coming after a long, grueling journey back from a career-threatening knee injury.

A Rollercoaster Final in Glasgow

Sreeshankar kicked off the final in dominant fashion, making an immediate statement with an opening jump of 8.03 metres. He followed it up by pushing his mark to 8.09 metres on his second attempt, briefly taking the overall lead in the competition.

However, former world champion Tajay Gayle of Jamaica responded swiftly with an impressive 8.15-metre effort to steal the top spot and ultimate gold. Pushing hard to reclaim the lead, Sreeshankar suffered two consecutive fouls on his third and fourth attempts before landing a 7.94-metre leap on his fifth try.

Scotland's local favourite Stephen Mackenzie secured the bronze medal with a best effort of 8.08 metres—just a single centimetre behind the Indian. Meanwhile, India’s Lokesh Sathyanathan delivered a solid performance to finish fifth overall, recording a best mark of 7.97 metres on his opening attempt.

Triumphant Return from Career-Threatening Injury

Sreeshankar's performance carries immense emotional weight given his recent struggles. In April 2024, the Kerala-born athlete suffered a devastating patellar tendon rupture that required surgery, forcing him out of the Paris Olympics and casting severe doubt over his athletic future.

His triumphant return to top-tier international competition marks a remarkable comeback. Earlier this season, Sreeshankar demonstrated his form by hitting a season-best mark of 8.38 metres at the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar.

India's CWG Long Jump Legacy

Prior to Sreeshankar’s back-to-back silver-medal runs in 2022 and 2026, India had earned only three Commonwealth Games medals in long jump:

  • Suresh Babu – Men's Long Jump Bronze (1978, Edmonton)

  • Anju Bobby George – Women's Long Jump Bronze (2002, Manchester)

  • M. Prajusha – Women's Long Jump Silver (2010, Delhi)

Sreeshankar now stands alone as the only Indian long jumper to achieve multi-medal success at the Commonwealth Games, reaffirming his status as one of India's track and field icons.