Paris 2024: Sreeshankar Murali looking towards a bright future after missing the Olympics

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New Delhi, Jul 23: Sreeshankar Murali, a 25-year-old long jumper who aspired to win an Olympic medal in Paris 2024, suffered a sudden and devastating injury during a routine training session.

Despite being in peak physical condition, a single awkward landing resulted in a ruptured tendon, leading to surgery and a period of uncertainty. Paris Olympics 2024 Special Page | India at Paris 2024

"It was a basic takeoff drill which all long jumpers do. It was a normal drill, which I have done a million times. The moment I landed awkwardly on the sand pit, I could not bend my knee," Sreeshankar said as quoted by ESPN.

The 25-year-old was scheduled to kick off his season with consecutive Diamond League Meetings in Shanghai/Suzhou and Doha on April 27 and May 10 respectively.

"I immediately knew the tendon was ruptured because I could see the kneecap on one side and the tendon on the other. I was not able to move. At that moment I realized 'Yeah, the Olympics are over [for me].' Before even the physio or doctor or anyone told me what happened, I knew [it]," Sreeshankar mentioned regarding his chances of making it to the Paris Olympics team.

Sreeshankar Murali aiming for World Championships after successful knee surgery
Sreeshankar underwent successful knee surgery in Doha on April 26. He will now target the World Championships next year. At the 2022 World Athletics Championships, Sreeshankar successfully advanced to the final round and finished in seventh place with a jump of 7.96 meters.

"I have got a new knee and an extended career, that's how I am looking at it. The way everything is progressing, I'm 100% sure that by next year I'll be in great shape. They have repaired my knee in such a good way that it's stronger than before also. My realistic target is next year's World Championships," Sreeshankar expressed optimistically.

He competed for India at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but did not advance to the finals. However, the following year, he achieved a silver medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. In the same year, Sreeshankar surpassed the entry standard for the Paris 2024 Olympics with an impressive jump of 8.37 meters at the Asian Athletics Championships in July, securing a silver medal in the process.

Jeswin Aldrin will be competing in the men's long jump event in the Paris Olympics 2024. He holds the national record in the long jump.