Asian Games Long Jump Silver Medallist Sreeshankar Undergoes Ankle Surgery, Eyes 2027 Comeback

Indian long jumper Murali Sreeshankar has undergone minor ligament reconstruction surgery on his right ankle after suffering an injury at the Asian Games in Japan last month, with the 27-year-old now setting his sights on a comeback next season and a fresh challenge at the 2027 World Championships and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Sreeshankar underwent the procedure on October 13 at Fortius Clinic in London under the supervision of specialist Dr Pieter D’Hooghe. The decision followed further medical consultations and investigations to ensure the ankle would regain the stability needed for elite competition.

“As much as I didn’t want to go through all this, I didn’t have a choice this time either,” Sreeshankar said in a social media post, explaining that the injury had damaged ligaments in his right ankle.

The injury occurred during the men’s long jump final at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on September 28. Competing on a rain-soaked runway, Sreeshankar slipped on the take-off board during his fourth attempt and twisted his ankle. Although he had to abandon his final two jumps, his second-round effort of 8.07 metres proved sufficient to secure the silver medal.

His father and coach, S Murali, had initially indicated that rest and rehabilitation might be enough. However, subsequent assessments led to the decision to operate, with the priority being to stabilise the ankle ahead of the 2027 season.

The setback is another challenge for an athlete whose career has already been disrupted by injuries. Sreeshankar underwent left knee surgery in April 2024, which ruled him out of the Paris Olympics. He returned to competition in 2025 and has since added major international medals to his record, including silver at the 2026 Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games.

Reflecting on his repeated injury troubles, Sreeshankar admitted that he did not have a clear explanation for why the setbacks kept occurring. Rather than blame the wet runway or fate, he said he would accept the situation and continue working towards becoming the best version of himself.

Drawing inspiration from basketball legend Kobe Bryant, he expressed confidence in his ability to bounce back, describing himself as someone with an extra “comeback gene” and the “Mamba Mentality”.

With the World Championships in Beijing in 2027 and the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 among his major targets, Sreeshankar is preparing for another rehabilitation phase, determined to turn the latest setback into the beginning of another medal chase.