Murali Sreeshankar created history at Birmingham Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2022 by winning India's first ever silver medal in long jump. Sreeshankar missed out on a gold medal as he overstepped the white line by just two centimeters. He won the silver medal with 8.08 metre jump.
Bahamas' Laquan Nairn's longest jump was 8.08 metre as well. However, Nairn's second-best jump was 7.98 metre whereas Sreeshankar's was 7.84 metre. The second-best jump turned out to be the decider between the two.
The 23-year-old started off with a 7.60 metre jump. He followed it up with two 7.84 metre jumps. His fourth jump turned out to be a foul because he overstepped. His fifth jump earned him the silver medal. He would have won the gold medal if not for the questionable overstepping call on his sixth attempt and surpassed Nairn.
The other Indian participating in long jump was Muhammed Anees Yahiya. He finished in fifth place with a 7.97 metre jump.
India's CWG history in long jump
Sreeshankar's silver medal is the only medal that was added in India's tally of medals on Day 7. India have now won 19th medal in CWG 2022 while several medals have been assured in boxing.
While Sreeshankar is the first Indian male to win a silver medal in long jump in CWG 2022, Prajusha Maliakkal won the silver medal at New Delhi CWG 2010. India's first ever CWG medal in long jump came in 1978. Suresh Babu won a bronze medal at the Edmonton edition of the game. In the women's category, legendary Anju Bobby George won a bronze medal at Manchester 2002 edition of CWG.
