India’s premier long jumper Sreeshankar finds himself at a crossroads in the wait to qualifying for the World Championships
After battling back from injury to claim gold at the 2025 National Inter-State Championships in Chennai with a leap of 8.06m, he stands on the edge of qualifying for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. Yet, despite his medal and consistent season, uncertainty looms large. His jump, while strong, fell short of the direct entry standard of 8.27m leaving his fate entirely in the hands of the World Athletics ranking system. The narrative, therefore, is not simply one of achievement but of tension: a story shaped by comeback, strategy, and the volatile mathematics of global rankings.
For Sreeshankar, the 2025 season has been nothing short of a personal victory. Forced to miss the Paris 2024 Olympics after knee surgery, his comeback was always going to be about rebuilding rhythm, confidence, and performance.
He has since strung together an undefeated run of five events, capped by his gold medal-winning 8.06m leap in Chennai on August 24, 2025. This was more than a win it was a strategic performance. With the qualification window closing the same day, every centimeter mattered for his ranking points. Winning the national title while crossing the eight-meter mark ensured he maximized his tally in the final hours of eligibility.
The Qualification Puzzle
The World Championships long jump field is capped at 36 athletes, determined by a dual-pathway system:
- Direct Entry Standard (8.27m): Around 18 athletes qualify by meeting or surpassing the standard.
- World Rankings (Top 18 remaining athletes): The rest are filled based on global rankings, which weigh consistent results, performance quality, and competition levels.
Sreeshankar’s 8.06m fell 21 cm short of the automatic mark. His only hope now is through the World Athletics Rankings, where he hovered around 42nd before Chennai, with projections placing him close to the cutoff after his latest win.
But this is no fixed line it’s a moving target. With athletes worldwide also chasing last-minute results in late-August meets, the final list won’t be known until the official update is processed. For now, India’s best long jumper is stuck in limbo, his Tokyo dream resting on calculations made thousands of miles away.
Myths vs Reality: External Factors
In the buildup to Chennai, speculation swirled that outside developments might help Sreeshankar’s cause. Two narratives stood out:
- Jacob Fincham-Dukes’ “withdrawal” It was assumed that the British long jumper, recovering from a serious injury, had bowed out. In reality, Fincham-Dukes returned in August, aiming to qualify himself. His comeback performances could actually raise the cutoff, making life harder for athletes like Sreeshankar.
- France “not sending a full team” – Some believed this might free up slots. But under World Athletics rules, unused quota spots are reallocated globally, not left empty. Thus, India gains nothing from one country’s internal selection.
Both cases underline the truth: Sreeshankar’s qualification hinges not on rumors or withdrawals, but on his own points and how they compare worldwide.
The Numbers Game
World Athletics rankings don’t just measure distance they combine points from performances, event category, and placement. Winning a national title is valuable, but continental and Diamond League events carry far higher weight. Missing much of the qualification cycle due to injury meant Sreeshankar could not accumulate enough of these “premium” points, leaving him heavily reliant on his Chennai win.
Here is the simplified breakdown:
| Pathway | Requirement | Field Slots (~36) | Sreeshankar’s Status |
| Entry Standard | 8.27m | ~18 | Not met (8.06m) |
| World Rankings | Top ~18 (after ES) | ~18 | Pending final list |
With his 8.06m, he has improved his standing but remains on the margins possibly around 36th, the “last spot.” The volatility of other late-season meets means his inclusion is still uncertain.
The Bigger Picture: Comeback and Confidence
While the wait is agonizing, the Chennai victory reflects a larger truth Sreeshankar is back. For a jumper returning from surgery, maintaining an unbeaten streak and clearing 8m repeatedly is a significant marker. Even if Tokyo slips through his grasp, this season has rebuilt both his form and his reputation. In fact, the narrative echoes his earlier career arc: a teenager who burst onto the global scene with national records, struggled with inconsistency, and then reinvented himself through resilience. At 26, Sreeshankar still has multiple prime years ahead, including the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
For India, the stakes go beyond one athlete. Athletics has often been measured by a handful of stars Neeraj Chopra, Anju Bobby George, and Tejaswin Shankar among them. Sreeshankar, as the country’s best-ever long jumper, represents another potential world-class figure. His qualification, or lack thereof, will be seen as a barometer of India’s depth beyond javelin. More importantly, his battle underscores the challenges Indian athletes face: injuries, limited access to high-ranking events, and the thin margins that separate qualification from heartbreak.
M. Sreeshankar’s 8.06m leap in Chennai was more than a mark it was a statement of fight, resilience, and strategy. Yet, it also highlighted the cruel precision of athletics: success is not always measured in gold medals but in centimeters and ranking points. For now, India’s long jump star waits. His Tokyo 2025 fate lies not in his legs but in spreadsheets and calculations. Whatever the final outcome, one truth stands firm: Sreeshankar has shown the world he is back, and the next chapter of his career World Championships or not promises to be a compelling one.
