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India’s premier long jumper Murali Sreeshankar continued his impressive return to form by winning the gold medal at the Meeting Maia Cidade do Desporto 2025 in Portugal, a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze-level event. With a best leap of 7.75 meters, Sreeshankar topped the podium in what was his second international competition following a lengthy injury layoff.
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The 26-year-old athlete, who had been out of action for over a year due to a serious knee injury, showed signs of building momentum with a series of consistent jumps in Maia, Portugal. Opening with a 7.63m jump, he bettered that mark with a 7.75m effort in his second attempt. He followed it up with a 7.69m leap in the third round before a foul in the fourth. His fifth attempt registered a modest 6.12m, but he wrapped up with a solid 7.58m in the final round.
Sreeshankar’s winning jump may not have been close to his personal best, but it demonstrated a steady return to form after a challenging period of rehabilitation and recovery. Poland’s Piotr Tarkowski and Australia’s Chris Mitrevski finished second and third respectively, but neither came close to surpassing Sreeshankar’s best mark of the day.
A Comeback Forged in Determination
Sreeshankar’s latest win is particularly significant as it comes barely a week after he announced his comeback at the Indian Open Athletics Meet 2025 in Pune on July 12. There, he cleared 8.05m — a mark that instantly reminded fans and selectors alike of his pre-injury brilliance.
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In Pune, the Kerala-born athlete began his campaign with a 7.84m leap, steadily improved to 7.99m, and then crossed the 8m threshold in his fourth attempt, a clear indicator that his recovery had not just been physical, but also mental. Clearing the 8m mark, often considered a benchmark of elite-level competition, marked a crucial milestone in his journey back to peak performance.
The Injury That Changed Everything
Murali Sreeshankar’s career took an unexpected turn in April 2024 when he suffered a devastating knee injury during a routine training session. The injury ruled him out of the Paris Olympics, a heartbreaking blow considering he had already qualified for the Games with a remarkable 8.37m jump at the 2023 Asian Athletics Championships — a performance that also earned him a silver medal.
The rehabilitation process was grueling, lasting over a year, and required not only physical therapy but also mental fortitude. Sreeshankar spent months undergoing structured rehabilitation in Bengaluru and later in Germany, working with some of the best sports physiotherapists to regain full mobility and competitive strength in his jumping leg.
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Despite the injury setback, Sreeshankar never wavered in his commitment to return to competition. He maintained a disciplined training regimen, frequently updating fans and supporters via social media, often noting that his focus was not merely on returning, but returning stronger than ever.
Building on a Mixed 2023 Season
Before the injury, Sreeshankar’s 2023 season was a mix of highs and learning curves. He secured silver medals at both the Asian Athletics Championships and the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, reaffirming his status as one of India’s most promising track and field talents. He also qualified for the Diamond League Finals in Eugene, Oregon, and competed at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest.
However, while his consistency placed him among the top long jumpers in Asia, he occasionally struggled to translate that consistency into big-stage wins. The Budapest Worlds saw him fall short of the finals, and despite a strong showing at the Diamond League, he missed out on the podium.
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Nonetheless, 2023 was a foundational year — filled with valuable international exposure, improvements in technique, and a focus on developing a winning mindset. Those lessons have clearly paid dividends in his post-injury comeback.
Eyes on the Bigger Stage: Tokyo and Beyond
Having marked his return with gold in Portugal and Pune, Murali Sreeshankar now has his sights firmly set on the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. The qualification standard for the event is 8.27m — a mark he has yet to reach since his return but is confident of achieving in the coming months.
“I’ve been feeling good in training. The body is responding well, and most importantly, the mind is clear,” Sreeshankar said after his win in Maia. “Every meet from here on is a stepping stone toward Tokyo and eventually the 2026 Commonwealth and Asian Games.”
His coach, S. Murali — who is also his father — echoed the sentiment, stating, “We are taking it one jump at a time. The 8m+ mark in Pune gave us confidence. The 7.75m win in Portugal was about maintaining competitive rhythm and testing the knee under different track conditions.”
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Legacy and Aspirations
Murali Sreeshankar has already etched his name in Indian athletics history by becoming one of the few Indian long jumpers to consistently breach the 8m mark. His personal best of 8.41m, recorded in 2022, remains one of the top performances by an Indian in the event.
While Neeraj Chopra has brought global attention to Indian athletics with his javelin feats, Sreeshankar’s quiet, focused progress has been equally critical in broadening India’s footprint in field events. His rise has inspired a new generation of jumpers from Kerala and across India, many of whom now see long jump as a viable path to international glory.
The road ahead won’t be easy. With rising competition from global heavyweights and strict qualifying marks, Sreeshankar will need to push beyond his comfort zone. But if his resilience over the past year is anything to go by, he is more than up for the challenge.
Conclusion: A Measured Leap Toward Greatness
In athletics, numbers often tell only part of the story. Murali Sreeshankar’s 7.75m jump in Portugal might not headline international sports pages, but for the athlete himself and Indian athletics at large, it marks a far greater victory — one of persistence, redemption, and renewed ambition.
His performance in Maia not only cements his position as India’s top long jumper but also builds a compelling case for what could be a breakthrough year ahead. As he chases the 8.27m World Championship mark, the Commonwealth Games, and the Asian Games, all eyes will be on Sreeshankar — a symbol of quiet excellence and unwavering resolve.
Whether it’s the red clay of Pune or the tracks of Portugal, Murali Sreeshankar is back in his element — flying further, aiming higher, and proving with every leap that champions are not just made by their victories, but by the way they rise after a fall.
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