Indian long jumper Murali Sreeshankar has undergone ankle surgery at Fortius Clinic, London, after sustaining a ligament injury during the men's long jump final at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya on 28 September 2026. The 27-year-old confirmed the procedure on 14 October, stating it was essential to stabilise his right ankle ahead of the 2027 World Championships in Beijing and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

How the Injury Happened

The incident unfolded on a rain-soaked track during the Asian Games final, when Sreeshankar slipped off the take-off board while preparing for his fourth attempt, twisting his right ankle and damaging his ligaments. Unable to complete his final two jumps, he still managed to secure the silver medal with his second-round effort of 8.07m. China's Shi Yuhao claimed gold with 8.17m, while Uzbekistan's Anvar Anvarov took bronze with 8.06m.

Why Surgery Was Necessary

Sreeshankar had initially hoped to manage the injury through rest and rehabilitation, but further medical consultations and investigations led to the conclusion that surgery was unavoidable. The procedure was performed under the care of Dr. Pieter D'Hooghe at Fortius Clinic London. 'As much as I didn't want to go through all this, I didn't have a choice this time either. I underwent a minor ankle surgery yesterday at Fortius Clinic London, under the care of Dr. Pieter D'Hooghe. Courtesy of the slip off the takeoff board during the Asian Games, I injured my ligaments,' Sreeshankar wrote in an Instagram post, sharing pictures with his doctor and coach.

Government and Institutional Support

Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi had announced on Monday that the central government would bear the full cost of Sreeshankar's surgery, treatment, and rehabilitation, ensuring the athlete had access to specialist care. Sreeshankar also expressed gratitude to the Sports Authority of India's TOPS scheme, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), and Reliance Foundation for Youth Sports for facilitating his treatment.

Sreeshankar on Recurring Injuries and the Road Ahead

The latest setback is not the first time Sreeshankar's career has been interrupted by injury, and he acknowledged the recurring nature of his fitness struggles with candour. 'Some of you might be wondering why this guy keeps getting injured again and again. Tbh, I don't have an answer to that. I could simply blame it on the wet takeoff board or perhaps my fate, but neither is going to help me. I'd rather accept what has happened and keep working towards becoming the best version of myself,' he said.

Notably, despite the frustration, Sreeshankar struck a determined tone, invoking what he described as his 'comeback gene' and the widely referenced 'Mamba Mentality'. 'But one thing I know for sure is that I have that extra comeback gene and the Mamba Mentality in me. That will do the job,' he added, signing off with a characteristically resolute message: 'And yeah, here we go again !! Comeback 2.0, to chase down another set of major medals!!'

With his immediate focus shifting to rehabilitation and restoring the stability of his right ankle, Sreeshankar's performance timeline will be closely watched as India builds its athletics contingent for LA 2028.