Long jumper Murali Sreeshankar is preparing for the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with aspirations of securing a gold medal. The athlete, who previously won silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, expressed confidence in his current form, stating he hopes to “change the colour of the medal.” His goal is to improve upon his 8.08m jump from the previous Games.
Sreeshankar’s journey to Glasgow follows a significant recovery period. In April 2024, he sustained a ruptured patellar tendon during training, an injury that forced him to miss the Paris Olympics despite having qualified. At the time, there were concerns among doctors and coaches about the future of his career. However, the 27-year-old has since made a strong return to competition.
Return to Form and Preparations
This season has seen Sreeshankar achieve some of his best performances. He began the year with an 8.15m jump in Bengaluru and later secured a win at the Simbine Classic in South Africa with an 8.12m jump. Most recently, he recorded an 8.38m jump at the National Inter-State Championships, which is his second-best jump, close to his national record of 8.41m. This performance at the Inter-State Championships equalled his personal best.
The athlete credits his successful comeback to a focused rehabilitation process. He emphasized that his physical condition is now either comparable to or better than before his injury, with improvements noted in his speed and jumping abilities. Sreeshankar believes that once all elements align, a “big jump” is imminent, and he has not set a specific distance as a ceiling for his performance.
Sreeshankar has been training in Spala, Poland, to prepare for the conditions expected in Glasgow. The training facility in Spala features a Mondo track surface, which is the same type of surface that will be used at the Commonwealth Games. He noted that adapting to the Mondo track and the cooler weather conditions in Poland is crucial for his performance in Glasgow. The initial week of training in Spala presented challenges due to the different feedback from the Mondo track compared to a standard track.
Focus on Recovery and Future Competitions
Following his knee injury, Sreeshankar has adjusted his training regimen to prioritize recovery. He now trains five days a week, incorporating one day of active recovery and one day of complete rest. This approach is a shift from his previous training methods, acknowledging the impact of his past injury and years of elite competition on his body. He highlighted that managing recovery and training schedules is a key aspect of professional sport.
The 2025 season was dedicated to rebuilding both mentally and physically for Sreeshankar. His primary goal for 2025 was to participate in the World Championship to set the stage for the 2026 season. With the Commonwealth Games scheduled from July 23 to August 2, and the Asian Games following from September 19 to October 4 in Aichi and Nagoya, Sreeshankar faces the challenge of peaking for two major events within a short timeframe.
The standard of men’s long jump in India has also seen a rise, with multiple athletes achieving jumps over eight meters this season. Sreeshankar noted that he entered the Inter-State Championships as the fourth-ranked jumper in India, with several athletes surpassing 8.20m and two exceeding 8.30m. This increased competition within the country, coupled with improvements in other field events such as Ancy Sojan’s national record in women’s long jump and Sarvesh Kushare’s high jump performance, indicates a strong period for Indian athletics.
Sreeshankar remains optimistic about his potential, believing that a significant jump is still to come in a major championship. His immediate focus is on the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, which are set to begin on July 23.
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Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Arjun Sharma
Sports Reporter