Indian long jump is currently facing a complex scenario as its athletes navigate a season of fluctuating performances, injuries, and high expectations in the lead-up to major international competitions. While Murali Sreeshankar has shown resilience with a comeback from injury, other key athletes like Jeswin Aldrin and Shaili Singh are facing their own hurdles.

Jeswin Aldrin, the national record holder with a personal best of 8.42m, has struggled to replicate his peak form this season. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Aldrin's performance was underwhelming, with a best jump of 7.61m, which was not enough to qualify for the final. This year, he has struggled to consistently breach the 8m mark. Aldrin's season best leading up to the summer of 2025 was 7.83m at the Federation Cup. His performance at the Paris Olympics and his struggle to hit the 8m mark have raised concerns about his readiness for upcoming global events.

Shaili Singh, another promising long jumper, has also experienced inconsistency. In April 2025, she won gold at the Federation Cup with a season-best jump of 6.64m. However, this mark fell short of the Tokyo Olympics qualification standard. Despite securing seven podium finishes in 2025, with two first-place finishes, her performance has been inconsistent. At the Taiwan Athletics Open 2025, Shaili won a silver medal with a jump of 6.41m, falling short of the gold. More recently, Shaili won the long jump at the Indian Open World Athletics Continental Tour event in Bhubaneswar with 6.28m.

Murali Sreeshankar's journey has been marked by a significant injury. After suffering a patellar tendon rupture in April 2024, there were doubts about his career. However, Sreeshankar underwent surgery and worked with a strength-and-conditioning coach to regain his fitness. He made a comeback at the Indian Open Athletics Championships in Pune with a leap of 8.05m. Sreeshankar has since extended his winning streak, securing first place at the Qosanov Memorial in Almaty with a 7.94m jump and the Indian Open World Athletics Continental Tour event in Bhubaneswar with a season-best 8.13m.

Despite these individual challenges, there have been some positive developments in Indian long jump. At the Indian Open World Athletics Continental Tour event in Bhubaneswar, 17-year-old Shahnavaz Khan leaped 8.04 meters, breaking the Indian U18 national record.

Looking ahead, Indian long jumpers face the challenge of maintaining their fitness, consistency, and mental fortitude. The upcoming World Championships in Tokyo will be a crucial test.