Murali Sreeshankar, the Indian long jump sensation, made a triumphant return to competitive athletics, clinching the gold medal at the Indian Open Athletics Meet 2025 in Pune. This victory marks a significant milestone in his career, especially after recovering from a serious knee injury that sidelined him for over 650 days and forced him to miss the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Sreeshankar's journey back to the track has been arduous. He last competed at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, after which he suffered a complete rupture of the patellar tendon in his knee during training. This injury, commonly known as "jumper's knee," required major surgery and an extensive rehabilitation period. Sreeshankar, in an interview with Sportstar in January, described the injury as potentially career-ending, emphasizing the crucial role the patellar tendon plays for him.

The Indian Open Athletics Meet in Pune witnessed Sreeshankar's strong comeback. The 26-year-old began cautiously with a 7.84m jump and progressively improved his performance with each attempt. His second jump measured 7.99m, and on his fourth attempt, he soared to 8.05m, securing the gold medal. This jump was the best by an Indian long jumper this season. With this performance, he became the first Indian long jumper to cross the 8m mark in 2025.

While his gold-winning jump was impressive, it fell short of the World Championships qualification mark of 8.27m. However, it showcased his determination and competitive spirit after a long layoff. Sreeshankar is now focused on surpassing the qualification mark in upcoming meets, with the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo later this year as his primary target. He is also aiming to participate in the next year's Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.

At the same event, Shivam Lokhare, a 20-year-old, won the men's javelin throw gold medal with a throw of 80.95m, surpassing Vikrant Malik, who was the favorite. Aishwarya Mishra, the Indian leader in the women's 400m, also returned to competition, aiming for the World Championships qualification mark after her 51.12s run at the National Games in February 2025. Sarvesh Kushare continued his dominance in the domestic circuit by winning the high jump gold.

Sreeshankar's personal best remains at 8.36m, a mark he achieved prior to his injury and one of the best performances in Indian athletics history. His recent performance in Pune signals a positive trajectory as he aims to regain his peak form and qualify for major international events.