Sonowal hails Sreeshankar's silver in Men's Long Jump at CWG 2026
Synopsis
Murali Sreeshankar won silver in Men's Long Jump at CWG 2026 with a season-best 8.09m, becoming the first Indian male long jumper to win back-to-back Commonwealth Games medals. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal led political congratulations.
Key Takeaways
Sreeshankar won silver in the Men's Long Jump at CWG 2026 with a season-best jump of 8.09m .
He is the first Indian male long jumper to win medals at two successive Commonwealth Games.
His previous Commonwealth Games medal was a silver at the 2022 Birmingham Games .
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal publicly congratulated Sreeshankar on 30 July 2026 .
The achievement reflects India's growing consistency in track and field at multi-sport events.
A season-best leap of 8.09 metres and a place in the history books — Murali Sreeshankar has become the first Indian male long jumper to win back-to-back Commonwealth Games medals, claiming silver at CWG 2026 in the Men's Long Jump event. Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal took to X on Thursday, 30 July 2026 to celebrate the feat.
Sonowal's post captured the scale of the achievement: 'Securing a second successive Commonwealth Games medal with a spectacular season-best leap of 8.09m is a proud moment for the entire nation. Becoming the first Indian male long jumper to achieve this feat is a testament to your hard work and dedication.'
Back-to-back glory: what makes this jump historic
Sreeshankar had previously won silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, a result that announced him as the standard-bearer of Indian horizontal jumping. Repeating on that stage — at the very next edition of the Games — places him in rare company in Indian athletics. The 8.09m mark, a season-best, signals that he arrived at CWG 2026 in peak form, not merely defending a title but actively pushing his personal ceiling. For Indian track and field, successive podium finishes at the Commonwealth Games represent a meaningful upward curve. Long jump has historically been a discipline where Indian men have struggled to sustain elite-level consistency across multi-sport cycles. Sreeshankar's double breaks that pattern decisively.India's track-and-field momentum on the global stage
The congratulations from a senior Cabinet minister reflect how India's political establishment now treats athletics medals — not as pleasant surprises but as expected markers of a maturing sporting programme. Senior BJP leader and former Chief Minister of Assam, Sonowal closed his message with a forward-looking note: 'Here's to many more big jumps ahead,' signalling confidence that Sreeshankar's trajectory is far from its peak. With the next Olympic qualification cycle already in motion, a Commonwealth Games silver backed by an 8.09m season-best puts Sreeshankar firmly in contention on the world stage. The question is no longer whether Indian men can medal in field events — it is how high they can go.Point of View
Not an afterthought. For Sonowal, a former Chief Minister from Assam with a keen eye on Northeast India's sporting pride, the gesture also carries regional resonance. The 8.09m season-best, achieved at a major Games, sets Sreeshankar up as a credible contender heading into the Olympic qualification cycle.
NationPress
30 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What medal did Sreeshankar win at CWG 2026?
Sreeshankar won the silver medal in the Men's Long Jump at the 2026 Commonwealth Games with a season-best jump of 8.09 metres.
What is Sreeshankar's historic achievement at Commonwealth Games?
He became the first Indian male long jumper to win medals at two successive Commonwealth Games, having won silver at both the 2022 Birmingham Games and CWG 2026.
What was Sreeshankar's jump distance at CWG 2026?
Sreeshankar jumped 8.09 metres at CWG 2026, which was his season-best performance.
Who is Sarbananda Sonowal?
Sarbananda Sonowal is India's Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, a senior BJP leader, and a former Chief Minister of Assam.
How has India performed in long jump at Commonwealth Games?
India's performance in Men's Long Jump has improved significantly, with Sreeshankar winning silver at both the 2022 and 2026 Commonwealth Games, making him the first Indian male long jumper to achieve back-to-back CWG medals.
