Mother’s Tears Turn to Joy as Injured Long Jumper Wins Asian Games Silver

Nagoya, Japan — September 29, 2026

When Indian long jumper Murali Sreeshankar injured his ankle during the Asian Games final, his mother watched from their home in Kerala with tears in her eyes. Minutes later, those tears turned into relief and celebration when her son secured a silver medal.

Sreeshankar recorded a best jump of 8.07 metres in the men’s long jump final on September 28. The mark was enough to keep him in second place even after an injury prevented him from completing his final two attempts.

A Frightening Moment

Sreeshankar had moved into medal position with his second attempt. During his fourth attempt, however, he landed awkwardly and immediately showed signs of pain.

Medical staff assessed his ankle, and the athlete decided not to take his fifth and sixth attempts. He could only wait and watch as the remaining competitors tried to overtake his 8.07-metre mark.

None of them managed to do so. China’s Shi Yuhao won gold with 8.17 metres, while Uzbekistan’s Anvar Anvarov finished third with 8.06 metres.

His Mother Watched From Home

Back in Yakkara, Palakkad, Sreeshankar’s mother K S Bijimol was watching the competition with relatives, neighbours and friends.

The family became worried when they saw him struggle after the fourth attempt. Bijimol was particularly concerned because the injured leg had previously undergone surgery.

She later said she had been hoping only that her son would win some medal so he could return home happy. When his silver medal was secured, the atmosphere at the family home changed completely.

A Comeback After a Difficult Period

The silver medal carries additional meaning because Sreeshankar had already experienced a major setback in his career. A serious injury kept him out of the Paris 2024 Olympics, forcing him to work his way back into competition.

His latest Asian Games medal is his second consecutive silver in the men’s long jump, following his silver at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games.

This time, he reached the podium while dealing with another injury during the competition itself.

Celebrations After the Tension

Once it became clear that nobody could surpass his 8.07-metre mark, the tension at his home in Palakkad gave way to celebration. Sweets were distributed among the people gathered there as his family celebrated another Asian Games medal.

For Sreeshankar’s mother, the medal meant more than a place on the podium. It meant seeing her son leave the competition with a medal after another difficult moment in his career.

Sources

• Press Trust of India / Rediff — Tears to Laddoos: Sreeshankar’s Family Celebrates Silver After Injury Scare — September 28, 2026.
• Times of India — Asian Games: Murali Sreeshankar wins silver after injury forces him out of final two jumps — September 28, 2026.
• IANS — Asian Games: Murali Sreeshankar clinches silver in long jump — September 28, 2026.
• NDTV — From Tears To Cheers: Murali Sreeshankar’s Mother Celebrates Son’s Gritty Asian Games Silver — September 28, 2026.