'The big jump will follow if I trust the process': Sreeshankar eyes CWG success
New Delhi, July 21
Murali Sreeshankar is refusing to get carried away by numbers as he targets another Commonwealth Games medal, insisting his focus remains firmly on the process rather than chasing the elusive 8.42m mark. The Indian long jumper believes that if every technical aspect comes together at the right time, the distance will take care of itself.
"I'm sure it takes time. I don't want to focus on just one distance and end up compromising other areas. I'd rather keep trusting the process and ensure the technical skills come together. If all three aspects align at the right moment, the big jump will follow. I just want to make sure I am in good shape physically," Sreeshankar said.
The Commonwealth Games silver medallist believes the sought-after 8.42m mark is within reach but noted that achieving such a jump depends heavily on conditions.
"Jumping well at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games really relies on the environment because 8.42m is a huge jump. That distance has likely won a medal in the last 50 editions of any Olympic or World Championship, so it's a significant mark. Matching that performance will need favourable conditions, and I'm not sure if that will happen this season."
The 27-year-old remains hopeful that the breakthrough will come soon. "I'm very confident that I'll achieve that jump very soon. I'm not saying it's going to happen in Glasgow or in Nagoya, but I believe that jump is definitely within my reach because I have already cleared 8.38m, which is very close to the national record. Even in Chennai, I had a jump that just grazed the red cone at 8.42m, so I know that distance is within me."
Sreeshankar stated that his current focus is on fine-tuning the technical aspects of his event. "The only things I need to work on are my body position in the air and my landing. My approach has been very good up until the Inter-State Championships and during my training in Spala. That was the main takeaway from Bhubaneswar. Once I enhance those technical elements and merge them with the effective approach I've been using, I'll be able to achieve a big jump."
The Kerala athlete heads to Glasgow looking to build on his already impressive career, which includes Commonwealth Games and Asian Games silver medals, a World Championships final appearance, and a remarkable comeback from the knee injury that sidelined him from the Paris Olympics.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good to hear he's not getting carried away by the hype. Indian athletes often burn out chasing big numbers too fast. That knee injury recovery alone shows his mental toughness. Wishing him a strong CWG performance! 🏅
"Trust the process" is such a solid mantra. The technical aspects—body position, landing—are where medals are won or lost. He's already proven he can compete globally. If all aligns, 8.42m won't be too far away. Keep it up, Sreeshankar!
While I admire his optimism, I wonder if the constant talk about 8.42m puts unnecessary pressure on him. The conditions in Glasgow might not be ideal, and CWG medals require consistency, not just one big jump. Hope he focuses on peak performance on the day, not just the distance. 🤔
Coming back from a knee injury that forced him to miss the Olympics, and now talking about 8.42m—that's resilience! His approach of merging good approach runs with better body position makes sense. Wishing him all the best from a fellow Malayali! 🥇
He's right that 8.42m is a monster distance—would've won medals at most global events. But Indian athletics often struggles with consistency under pressure. I'd be happy with a solid 8.20m in Glasgow to defend his silver. Let's not get overambitious and risk injury again!
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