India’s Murali Sreeshankar clinched the silver medal in the men’s long jump at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, producing a season-best leap of 8.09m in a closely contested final on Wednesday.The 27-year-old, who is coached by his father S. Murali, opened with a jump of 8.03m before registering his best effort of 8.09m in the second round.
Despite recording two fouls later in the competition, Sreeshankar remained in medal contention throughout and finished with jumps of 7.94m and 7.97m in his final two attempts to secure second place.
The silver marked Sreeshankar’s second successive Commonwealth Games medal after he claimed silver at Birmingham 2022 with a jump of 8.08m, becoming the first Indian male long jumper to win a medal in the event at the Games.
Jamaica’s 2019 world champion Tajay Gayle won the gold medal with a leap of 8.15m, while Scotland’s Stephen Mackenzie took bronze with 8.08m, finishing just one centimetre behind the Indian.
India also impressed through Lokesh Sathyanathan, who finished fifth with a best jump of 7.97m, underlining the country’s strong performance in the event.
The final featured a high standard of competition, with four athletes crossing the eight-metre mark. Sreeshankar’s second-round effort proved decisive in securing India’s latest athletics medal at the Glasgow Games.
The medal took India’s overall tally to 13, comprising two gold, eight silver and three bronze medals. In athletics and para athletics, India had won five medals so far — one gold, three silver and one bronze.
(With IANS inputs)
