‘Have that extra comeback gene’: Murali Sreeshankar after ankle surgery

Sreeshankar injured his right ankle during the men’s long jump final at the Asian Games in Nagoya on September 28. | Photo Credit: R.V. MOORTHY

Indian long jumper Murali Sreeshankar underwent ligament reconstruction surgery on his right ankle at Fortius Clinic in London on Tuesday, weeks after sustaining an injury during the men’s long jump final at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya.

“As much as I didn’t want to go through all this, I didn’t have a choice this time either,” Sreeshankar wrote in a social media post on Wednesday, confirming that he had undergone what he described as a “minor ankle surgery” under the care of Dr. Pieter D’Hooghe.

The 27-year-old injured his right ankle on September 28 when he slipped on the take-off board while preparing for his fourth attempt in the final. Competing on a rain-soaked track, Sreeshankar twisted his ankle but continued to compete, with his second-round effort of 8.07m earning him the silver medal.

China’s Shi Yuhao won gold with a jump of 8.17m, while Uzbekistan’s Anvar Anvarov took bronze with 8.06m.

“Courtesy of the slip off the takeoff board during the Asian Games, I injured my ligaments,” Sreeshankar wrote, explaining that surgery was deemed necessary after further consultations and investigations to ensure his ankle was stable ahead of the upcoming season.

The Indian has set his sights on the World Athletics Championships 2027 in Beijing and the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 as he begins another recovery process.

Sreeshankar also acknowledged the frustration surrounding his repeated injury setbacks, admitting that he did not have an answer for why they kept happening.

“Some of you might be wondering why this guy keeps getting injured again and again. Tbh, I don’t have an answer to that,” he wrote.

“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.”

Despite the latest setback, Sreeshankar remained defiant about his ability to return to competition.

“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 wrote.