India’s long jump fraternity just got another reason to celebrate. Kerala’s Anurag CV, a 100/200m sprint specialist turned jumper, has officially joined the elite 8-metre club a mark that defines world-class long jumping.
At the India Open U-23 Athletics Championships in Warangal, Anurag stunned the field with a personal best leap of 8.06 metres, clinching the gold medal and etching his name among India’s top jumpers. His series 7.88m, 8.06m, and 7.96m reflected remarkable consistency and poise under pressure, a sign of an athlete hitting his technical and physical peak. The jump not only improved on his previous meet record of 7.87m from the 2024 edition but also marked the third Indian over 8 metres this season, following Murali Sreeshankar (8.13m) and Shahnawaz Khan (8.04m).
From Sprinter to Record-Breaking Jumper
Anurag’s rise has been nothing short of extraordinary. Barely a year ago, at the All India Inter University Athletics Meet 2024, the Kerala athlete claimed gold with a best of 7.90m, breaking a six-year-old meet record of 7.79m held by international jumper Muhammad Anees Yahiya.
That victory hinted at potential; Warangal 2025 confirmed it.
The transition from sprinting to long jump hasn’t been easy, but his background in the 100m and 200m has been pivotal. Speed on the runway remains the defining element of his jump. What separates Anurag now is the technical refinement his take-off precision and body control at flight, both of which showed significant improvement through 2024.
In just his first full season focusing on long jump nationally, Anurag has vaulted himself from a collegiate breakout to one of the top-10 Indian jumpers of all time.
The 8-Metre Club: India’s New Golden Generation
The Indian long jump scene is experiencing a renaissance. What used to be an isolated achievement crossing 8 metres has now become the benchmark of elite competition.
This names tells a story of depth and progress India is no longer a one-man long jump nation revolving around Sreeshankar. Young talents like Anurag are expanding the field, giving the event a true competitive ecosystem. For Anurag, the 8.06m mark not only delivers individual glory but also cements his place in a generational shift that’s redefining Indian athletics.
The Warangal Leap: A Moment to Remember
Spectators in Warangal witnessed one of those rare “where were you when” athletics moments. On a bright morning in Telangana, Anurag lined up for his third attempt already leading with 7.88m. His next leap a clean, powerful take-off and perfect mid-air posture saw him land at 8.06m, sparking disbelief and celebration. Officials confirmed the distance; the crowd roared. Coaches and fellow athletes gathered to congratulate the 23-year-old, who had just notched a world-class mark and a lifetime best.
“NOOOOO!!! ANURAG! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE MAN!!” wrote one athletics tracker online, capturing the sheer astonishment across India’s athletics community. It was the perfect combination of joy and awe the kind that greets every new entry into Indian track and field’s elite club.
Building on a Record-Breaking Year, Anurag’s progression over the past 18 months reads like a textbook case of steady development:
- Sept 2024: Wins gold at the Indian U23 Championships with 7.87m his first national long jump appearance.
- Dec 2024: Breaks the All India University record with 7.90m.
- April 2025: Hits 8.06m at the India Open U23 Championships, moving into India’s all-time top 10.
Each milestone has been accompanied by improved technique particularly his ability to carry sprint momentum into take-off without compromising balance. With wind details still awaited for the Warangal performance, it could yet be ratified as one of India’s best legal jumps. Even without that confirmation, the mark is a breakthrough.
Kerala’s dominance in Indian athletics continues to grow, and Anurag’s emergence reinforces the state’s status as the country’s long jump powerhouse. From Anju Bobby George’s global trailblazing, to Sreeshankar’s 8.41m and now Anurag’s 8.06m, the pipeline from Kerala remains unmatched. The state’s balance of coaching infrastructure, competitive exposure, and grassroots talent development has become the blueprint for athletics success nationwide.
Anurag’s success also offers a promising new narrative one where a sprinter-turned-jumper can rival natural specialists through focused training and data-driven refinement.
Crossing the 8m mark is not the finish line; it’s the beginning of a new chapter. With Asian and global events on the horizon, Anurag’s target will now shift to consistency producing 8m-plus jumps across competitions, not just as one-off peaks. If nurtured correctly, the Kerala jumper could soon challenge for senior national titles and possibly India’s continental representation.
In a discipline where every centimetre matters, Anurag’s 8.06m leap represents more than distance it’s a symbol of India’s expanding horizon in track and field.
A year after breaking a six-year-old record with 7.90m, Anurag C.V. has soared to 8.06m, rewriting the benchmarks for young Indian jumpers. In doing so, he joins the select list of 8m athletes Sreeshankar, Shahnawaz, and Aditya Kumar and signals that India’s long jump future has never looked brighter.
What a talent. Another 8-metre man. Another reason to believe.
