Murali Sreeshankar undergoes ankle surgery, eyes 2027 World Championships comeback

Indian long jumper Murali Sreeshankar has undergone ankle surgery after his Asian Games injury. The Commonwealth Games silver medallist is targeting a comeback at the 2027 World Championships in Beijing, with LA 2028 also in his sights.Murali Sreeshankar underwent ankle injury after his slip at the Asian Games. (Image: Instagram/@sreeshankarmurali)New Delhi,Oct 15, 2026 21:12 ISTIndian long jumper Murali Sreeshankar has undergone minor ligament reconstruction surgery on his right ankle after suffering an injury at the Asian Games in Japan last month. The 27-year-old is now targeting a return to competition in the 2027 season, with the World Championships in Beijing and the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 among his key goals.Sreeshankar underwent the procedure at Fortius Clinic in London on October 13 under the supervision of Dr Pieter D'Hooghe. The injury occurred during the men's long jump event at the Asian Games on September 28, where the Indian slipped on the rain-soaked take-off board during his fourth attempt and twisted his right ankle.Despite the setback, Sreeshankar managed to secure silver with a second-round jump of 8.07 metres. However, the injury forced him to withdraw from his final two attempts.In a social media post, Sreeshankar explained that further consultations and investigations had led to the decision to operate, despite initial hopes that rest and rehabilitation would be sufficient. "Courtesy of the slip off the takeoff board during the Asian Games, I injured my ligaments. After further consultations and investigations, surgery was deemed necessary to ensure that my ankle is stable and ready for the upcoming season, with the World Championships 2027 in Beijing and, most importantly, LA 2028," he wrote.ANOTHER COMEBACK BEGINSThe latest injury is another setback for Sreeshankar, who returned to competitive action in 2025 after undergoing left knee surgery in April 2024. That operation had ruled him out of the Paris Olympics, forcing him to spend an extended period away from competition. The long jumper admitted that repeated injuries have been difficult to deal with, but said he was determined to focus on his recovery rather than dwell on the reasons behind them."Some of you might be wondering why this guy keeps getting injured again and again. Tbh (to be honest), I don't have an answer to that. I could simply blame it on the wet takeoff board or perhaps my fate, but neither is going to help me. I'd rather accept what has happened and keep working towards becoming the best version of myself," he said.Sreeshankar also drew inspiration from the mentality of basketball legend Kobe Bryant, whose approach to competition and perseverance has long been admired by the Indian athlete."But one thing I know for sure is that I have that extra comeback gene and the Mamba Mentality in me. That will do the job," he added.FOCUS ON 2027 AND LA 2028The ankle injury came during what had been a promising return to the international stage. After missing the Paris Olympics, Sreeshankar rebuilt his fitness and returned to competition in 2025. He also claimed a silver medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games before adding another silver at the Asian Games.His immediate priority will be to ensure the ankle regains stability before he resumes full training. According to his father and coach, S Murali, the family opted for surgery after further medical consultations, with the procedure considered necessary to prepare the athlete for the demands of the upcoming season.Sreeshankar thanked the Sports Authority of India and the Athletics Federation of India, among others, for helping him access specialist medical care."And yeah, here we go again!! Comeback 2.0, to chase down another set of major medals!!" he wrote.With the 2027 World Championships in Beijing and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics on the horizon, Sreeshankar now faces another rehabilitation period. The Indian long jumper will be hoping that the latest procedure allows him to return to full fitness and resume his pursuit of major international medals.- Ends