Murali Sreeshankar Secures Silver in Men's Long Jump at Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games

Sreeshankar's Mixed Emotions After Winning Silver

Indian long jumper Murali Sreeshankar expressed his happiness over clinching a second consecutive silver medal at the Commonwealth Games but admitted he felt 'not satisfied' as he aimed for gold in the men's long jump event at the Glasgow 2026 Games.

The 27-year-old athlete, who previously secured silver at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, achieved a best jump of 8.09 meters, finishing behind Jamaica's Tajay Gayle, who took gold with a leap of 8.15 meters. Scotland's Stephen Mackenzie earned the bronze medal with a jump of 8.08 meters.

Reflections on Performance

In a statement, Sreeshankar remarked, 'Our goal is always to aim for gold. While I am pleased with the silver, I am not fully satisfied as this was not the performance I anticipated. I aimed for a significant jump to secure gold for my country and to redeem the silver from Birmingham. Nevertheless, I am grateful to represent my nation at the Commonwealth Games, especially considering the challenges I faced over the past two years.'

Historic Achievement

Sreeshankar remained competitive throughout the event, needing to surpass Gayle's leading mark in his final attempt. Unfortunately, his sixth jump measured 7.97 meters, falling short by six centimeters. This silver medal marks Sreeshankar as the first Indian male long jumper to win two Commonwealth Games medals, adding another milestone to his impressive career.

A Remarkable Comeback

The athlete's recent success is particularly noteworthy as it follows a significant comeback after he missed the Paris 2024 Olympics due to surgery for a serious patellar tendon injury. His return to international competition has been marked by determination to reclaim his status among the world's elite long jumpers, culminating in another podium finish at the Commonwealth Games.

Hailing from Palakkad, Sreeshankar was introduced to athletics by his father, S. Murali, a former South Asian Games triple jump silver medallist, while his mother, KS Bijimol, excelled as a middle-distance runner. He has consistently ranked among India's top field athletes, boasting a personal best of 8.41 meters and having previously won silver medals at the 2023 Asian Athletics Championships and the Hangzhou Asian Games.

India's Performance at Glasgow 2026

In addition to Sreeshankar, India had another competitor in the men's long jump final, with Lokesh finishing fifth in his Commonwealth Games debut, achieving a best jump of 7.97 meters.

Sreeshankar's silver contributed to India's 13th medal at the Glasgow Games, bringing the country's total to 15 medals by Day 7, which includes three gold, nine silver, and three bronze medals.

List of India's Medallists

The current list of Indian medallists includes:

• Mirabai Chanu (Gold, Weightlifting)


• Sharmila Dhankar (Gold, Women's Shot Put F57)


• Dilip Mahadu Gavit (Gold, Men's T47 100m)


• Mohammed Basil Morssinganakth (Silver, Men's T47 100m)


• Murali Sreeshankar (Silver, Men's Long Jump)


• Rishikanta Singh (Silver, Weightlifting)


• Muthupandi Raja (Silver, Weightlifting)


• Gyaneshwari Yadav (Silver, Weightlifting)


• Sarvesh Kushare (Silver, Men's High Jump)


• Gulveer Singh (Silver, Men's 10,000m)


• Harjinder Kaur (Silver, Weightlifting)


• Valluri Ajaya Babu (Silver, Weightlifting)


• Bindyarani Devi (Bronze, Weightlifting)


• Shilpa K. Shyla (Bronze, Women's Shot Put F57)


• Jhandu Kumar (Bronze, Para Powerlifting)