Gold standard: How Asian Games medalist long jumper Sreeshankar Murali kept pushing through a career-threatening injury
While the Summer Olympics in Paris saw the cream of India's athletic talent battling it out on the global stage, one notable absentee was long jumper Sreeshankar Murali. The Kerala phenom had been in scorching form but a freak accident during training shattered his dreams of competing. However, through sheer grit and determination, Murali is now back on the comeback trail as he shared with this journalist.
It was during a light session in his hometown that disaster struck. A seemingly innocuous landing popped his knee tendon in a manner doctors compared to a car crash. The emotional toll was immense on Murali and his distraught family. Fighting back tears, the athlete underwent immediate reconstructive surgery in Doha with world-class facilities assisting his recovery.
This forced break wasn't all negative though. From the commentary box in Paris, Murali gained a newfound appreciation for the unseen support networks behind elite athletes. He also produced a lauded interview series introducing Indian fans to training methods of Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra and Paris long jump gold medalist Miltiadis Tentoglou.
Rehab in Bellary saw Murali supported by an entire team. Mental resiliency was key with video calls from concerned peers like Chopra and Tejaswin Shankar lifting his spirit. Murali is now determined to return stronger, promising to pace himself while eyeing a comeback next summer on the international circuit. His journey exemplifies the true grit of champions who never say die.
