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Mansukh Mandaviya, the Union Sports Minister, expressed his congratulations to Indian long jumper Murali Sreeshankar for securing a silver medal in the men's long jump at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. He referred to this accomplishment as a 'proud moment for Indian Athletics.' In a post shared on X, Mandaviya stated, 'Congratulations to TOPS Core athlete Sreeshankar for clinching the Silver Medal in the Men's Long Jump event with a remarkable jump of 8.09 m at the Commonwealth Games.'

Sreeshankar showcased his talent once again at the Commonwealth Games, achieving a best jump of 8.09m to earn the silver medal. He finished behind Jamaica's Tajay Gayle, who took gold with a leap of 8.15m, while Scotland's Stephen Mackenzie secured bronze with a jump of 8.08m. The athlete from Kerala remained in the race for gold until his final attempt but recorded 7.97m on his sixth jump, falling just six centimeters short of Gayle's winning distance.

This silver medal marks a historic achievement for Sreeshankar, making him the first Indian male long jumper to win two medals at the Commonwealth Games, having previously earned silver at the Birmingham 2022 edition. This latest success is particularly significant as it follows a challenging recovery from a serious patellar tendon injury that kept him from competing in the Paris 2024 Olympics. His return to international competition has been marked by determination, and he has now added a second Commonwealth Games silver to his accolades.

Hailing from Palakkad, Kerala, Sreeshankar comes from a lineage of athletes. His father, S Murali, was a silver medalist in the triple jump at the 1989 South Asian Games, and his mother, KS Bijimol, won a silver medal in the 800m at the 1992 Asian Junior Athletics Championships. Sreeshankar has consistently excelled on the international stage, boasting a personal best of 8.41m and having previously won silver medals at the 2023 Asian Athletics Championships and the Hangzhou Asian Games before his latest achievement in Glasgow.

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 7.97m. Sreeshankar's silver was part of India's overall tally of 15 medals on Day 7 of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, which includes three gold, nine silver, and three bronze medals. Notable Indian medallists include Mirabai Chanu (gold in weightlifting), Sharmila Dhankar (gold in women's shot put F57), and several others across various events.