Sreeshankar Murali : The Jump Towards Redemption

Some journeys are measured in metres. Others are measured in the distance an athlete travels to return to where they belong.

In the latest special from Safar Champions Ka, Reliance Foundation Sports athlete Sreeshankar Murali opens up about his remarkable journey in athletics, the challenges he has overcome and the people who have supported him along the way. 

Safar Champions Ka is a special series that takes you beyond the arena and into the journeys of Reliance Foundation Sports athletes. Exploring the experiences, challenges, turning points and people that shape their careers, the series offers a closer look at the individuals behind the performances.

For Sreeshankar, the journey began in Palakkad, in a household where sport was not just a passion but a way of life. His father S. Murali, and mother, K.S. Bijimol were both international athletes. Conversations at home revolved around sport, while athletics became a constant presence in his life.

“I used to always talk regarding sports only,” his mother recalls.

The signs of Sreeshankar’s talent appeared early. He won state championships at the under-10 and under-12 levels, setting a long-standing record in the under-12 category, before continuing his success at the under-14 level. From those early years in Palakkad, a champion was beginning to take shape.

His journey soon took him to the biggest stages in athletics. In 2022, Sreeshankar won a Commonwealth Games silver medal, establishing himself among the leading long jumpers in the world. But his pursuit of gold continued. At the Asian Games, the top step of the podium slipped away by just three centimetres.

Then came the biggest setback of his career.

In 2024, while preparing for the Paris Olympic Games, Sreeshankar suffered a ruptured patellar tendon. The injury brought his season to an abrupt end and forced him into a long and difficult rehabilitation process. For an athlete at the peak of his career, the road back appeared uncertain. But Sreeshankar refused to let the injury define his story.

Inspired by his idol Kobe Bryant and driven by the belief that he could return stronger, he began the arduous process of rebuilding. His family stood by him, while the support of the Reliance Foundation provided an important part of the high-performance ecosystem around his recovery.

After spending 650 days away from competition, Sreeshankar finally returned. His comeback was immediate and emphatic. In his first competition back, he produced an 8.05m jump, qualified for the World Championships and returned to wearing the Indian colours.

 

 

 

 

 

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For Sreeshankar, the comeback was not the end of the journey. It was the beginning of the next chapter.

His father believes that his son has always possessed the ability to win gold.

“He has the capacity for gold, and he has performed at a level beyond gold.”

Now, with his sights set on the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Sreeshankar continues to chase the medals that have narrowly eluded him.

From the young athlete who grew up in a sporting household in Palakkad, to a Commonwealth Games medallist, to an athlete who fought his way back from a career-threatening injury, his journey has been one of resilience.

The next jump is not just about distance. It is about redemption. Sreeshankar’s Safar Champions Ka continues.