Glasgow, July 30: Murali Shreeshankar from India clinched a silver medal in the men’s long jump final at the Commonwealth Games 2026, achieving a personal best jump of 8.09 meters late Wednesday night (Indian time).
The athlete from Palakkad, Kerala, made his best leap in the second round. He started with a jump of 8.03 meters before reaching 8.09 meters. Despite two fouls later in the competition, Shreeshankar remained in contention for a medal throughout. He concluded his campaign with jumps of 7.94 meters and 7.97 meters in his final two attempts.
At 27 years old, Shreeshankar became the first Indian male long jumper to win a silver medal at the Games, previously achieving a jump of 8.08 meters at the Birmingham Games in 2022.
With this medal, India’s total medal count has reached 13, including 2 gold, 8 silver, and 3 bronze medals. In athletics and para-athletics, India has secured five medals so far, comprising 1 gold, 3 silver, and 1 bronze.
Jamaica’s 2019 World Champion, Tajay Gayle, won the gold medal with a jump of 8.15 meters, while Scotland’s Stephen McKenzie took home the bronze with a leap of 8.08 meters. Another Indian athlete, Lokesh Sathyanathan, finished fifth with a best jump of 7.97 meters.
The final showcased intense competition, with four athletes surpassing the eight-meter mark. Shreeshankar’s jump of 8.09 meters solidified a new medal for India in athletics at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, further strengthening India’s athletics campaign. This silver medal adds another significant achievement to Shreeshankar’s impressive international record.
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