India's long jump star Murali Sreeshankar has started his season in the best possible way, jumping an impressive 8.15m to win the men's long jump event in his season opener.
Competing at the Indian Athletics Series - 1 in Bengaluru, Sreeshankar looked confident and in control from the very beginning. He was the only athlete in the competition to cross the 8m mark, showing clear dominance over the field.
His series of jumps tells the full story of his consistency. He opened with 8.09m, followed it with 7.99m, and then stepped up with 8.13m. His best jump of 8.15m came in the fourth attempt. He continued to stay above 8m with jumps of 8.12m and 8.10m. Six jumps, five above 8m, a remarkable performance.
This was not just about one big jump. It was about control,
rhythm, and confidence. Sreeshankar looked strong in every attempt and even cleared the Asian Games qualifying mark (7.91m) in all six jumps.
What makes this performance even more special is his comeback journey. After dealing with injury last year, Sreeshankar showed great resilience. In 2025, he crossed the 8m mark in three competitions, including the Open Athletics Meet (8.05m), the World Continental Tour (8.13m), and the Inter-State Championships (8.06m).
He also qualified for the World Championships in Tokyo, proving his return to top form.
Now in 2026, he has once again crossed the 8m mark and become only the second Indian this year to do so, after Lokesh Sathyanathan, who jumped 8.21m. On the Asian level, Sreeshankar is the third athlete this year to achieve this mark, alongside Lokesh and Japan's Yuki Hashioka.
Since 2025, only four Indian long jumpers have crossed the 8m mark Sreeshankar, Shahnawaz Khan, C.V. Anurag, and Lokesh Sathyanathan. This shows how special such performances are in Indian athletics.
Sreeshankar's latest jump of 8.15m is also better than his 2025 season best of 8.13m. His personal best remains 8.41m, while the national record of 8.42m is held by Jeswin Aldrin.
This competition was also his first major event since the World Championships last year, making his performance even more impressive.
With such a strong start, Murali Sreeshankar has sent a clear message he is back, he is consistent, and he is ready for a big season ahead.
