Tejaswin Shankar Makes History with Bronze in Decathlon at Commonwealth Games

Tejaswin Shankar's Remarkable Achievement

Tejaswin Shankar expressed his joy after clinching a bronze medal in the decathlon at the Commonwealth Games, feeling relieved to not return empty-handed. Just days prior to the event, he faced uncertainty about competing due to a flare-up of a leg injury, making his success all the more surprising. He attributed his victory to a focused approach, emphasizing the importance of taking one event, one session, and one step at a time, which helped him maintain presence and confidence throughout the competition.

A Historic First for Indian Athletics

Shankar made history by becoming the first Indian athlete to win a medal in the decathlon at the Commonwealth Games. He concluded the event with a remarkable total of 7,976 points, marking a significant milestone for Indian athletics.

"It feels great to not return empty-handed; I am very pleased... Just two days before the decathlon, I was unsure about competing due to a sudden leg injury flare-up. I never anticipated achieving this result. The key lesson I learned was to take it one day at a time, focusing on each session, hour, and step, and see where it led. That was the mindset I adopted for the decathlon. After the 100m, we proceeded to the long jump and shot put. For each event, it was about that single throw, rep, or jump; I was glad to stay in the moment and execute," Shankar shared.

Securing the Podium Finish

The Indian athlete secured the bronze medal following a strong performance in the final event, the 1500m race, where he clocked a time of 4:36.19. Despite facing a late challenge from an English competitor, Shankar maintained his position, as his rival's time of 4:32.29 was insufficient to surpass him, ensuring a historic podium finish for the Indian.

Shankar's accomplishment adds to India's growing success in athletics at the Commonwealth Games.

Canada's Damian Warner took home the silver medal, while Grenada's Lindon Victor won the gold.

A Historic Milestone

With this bronze medal, Tejaswin Shankar has secured his place in Indian sports history as the first Commonwealth Games decathlon medallist.