Asian Games: Murali Sreeshankar claims back-to-back Silver in long jump despite injury scare during final

Murali Sreeshankar has secured silver in the men’s long jump at the 2026 Asian Games on Monday as he claimed the medal in back-to-back editions. The Indian recorded 8.07 metres despite an ankle injury that forced him to abandon his final two attempts.

The 27-year-old from Palakkad produced his best jump on the second attempt to take second place. Sreeshankar, who also won silver at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, qualified second with 7.84m before breaking the eight-metre barrier in the final. 

Asian Games: Murali Sreeshankar claims back-to-back Silver in long jump despite injury scare during final

Sreeshankar sustained the ankle injury on his fourth jump and was later seen limping, which raised serious concerns. But this did not stop himk to bring back th medal home. Meanwhile, China’s Shi Yuhao bagged gold with a season-best 8.17m, while Uzbekistan’s Anvar Anvarov took bronze with 8.06m.

It was just one centimetre behind the Indian. The top four finishers were separated by only 12 centimetres in one of the tightest long jump finals in Asian Games history. The result marks another strong performance for Indian athletics at the Aichi-Nagoya Games, with Sreeshankar once again proving his big-stage consistency.

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