Tejaswin Shankar: A True Testament to Resilience at the Commonwealth Games
Despite grappling with a painful knee injury, Tejaswin Shankar is not backing down from the Commonwealth Games. Currently sitting in second place in the decathlon, this Indian athlete is giving it everything he has, demonstrating an inspiring fighting spirit.
After tearing up in the stands when he had to withdraw from the men’s high jump final, Tejaswin worried his Games might be over. However, he proved otherwise on July 30 by competing in five decathlon events.
Thanks to dedicated medical professionals, Tejaswin was able to take the field, even though his start in the decathlon didn’t go as planned. He finished the 100-meter sprint last, clocking in at 10.96 seconds. This could have easily discouraged many athletes, but not Tejaswin. He chose to persevere.
What made his journey even more special was the support from his fellow athletes. They were busy preparing for their own events but still made a point to check in on him, showing a unified team spirit. “Honestly, every athlete reached out to me,” Tejaswin shared. “It felt more like a team sport than an individual competition.”
Tejaswin often found teammates asking about his well-being in various settings, from the competition venue to meals in the athletes’ village. Their genuine concern was heartwarming, making his tough time a bit more bearable. “I could see they felt for me after witnessing my struggles on camera,” he said.
Arriving in Glasgow as one of India’s strong hopes for a medal, the moment was challenging for him. Yet, the camaraderie amongst his teammates made him realize that his journey was no longer just about his own success but part of something larger.
Tejaswin acknowledged, “I’ve come to understand that the Commonwealth is turning into more of a team sport for us. We all support one another, which is the culture I want in athletics.”
He emphasized the importance of creating an environment where Indian athletes celebrate each other’s achievements, moving away from the idea that events are separate. “We want to make it a collective effort where we share in both joys and setbacks.”
As he faced each event on Day 1 of the decathlon, Tejaswin displayed incredible resilience. Although he started with a slow time in the 100m and faced a tough 400m, he also achieved personal bests: a jump of 7.82 meters in the long jump and a clearance of 2.15 meters in the high jump—an event he had to miss earlier due to his injury.
After completing five events, Tejaswin found himself in second place with 4,339 points, just 14 points shy of Canada’s Damian Warner, and comfortably ahead of England’s Sammy Ball by 90 points. This standing was remarkable considering his injury had sidelined him from competing for a high jump medal.
As he prepares for the pole vault, javelin, and the remaining challenges, Tejaswin carries with him the unwavering support of a cohesive team—one that refused to let their key athlete face this journey alone.
In a sport often characterized by individual feats, the solidarity shown by his fellow competitors has created a sense of unity that Tejaswin considers a significant takeaway from the start of his decathlon experience.
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