NEW DELHI: There were tears after one jump. Days later, there was history, a medal and a message that resonated far beyond the athletics track.Indian decathlete Tejaswin Shankar has opened up on the emotional turmoil he endured at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, revealing that he briefly “gave up” after a recurring knee injury shattered his hopes in the high jump before he picked himself up to script history with India’s first-ever Commonwealth Games medal in the decathlon.The national record holder shared a deeply personal message on social media after returning home with a bronze medal, admitting the journey from heartbreak to the podium was one of the toughest tests of his career.“There are moments in life when you feel like everything you’ve worked for is slipping away. This week, I had one of those moments,” Tejaswin wrote.ALSO READ:Over to Ahmedabad! Neeraj Chopra, PT Usha receive CWG flag as India’s 2030 countdown begins
‘I questioned everything’
The 27-year-old had travelled to Glasgow hoping to defend the bronze medal he won in the high jump at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022 — India’s first-ever medal in the event.Instead, his campaign unravelled almost instantly.A long-standing battle with chronic patellar tendinitis, commonly known as jumper’s knee, resurfaced after his very first attempt in the high jump, forcing him to withdraw from the competition.The sight of Tejaswin crouching alone on the track, struggling to hold back tears, became one of the defining images of India’s campaign.Those tears, however, were not because of physical pain.“I’m going to be honest and admit for a while, I gave up,” he revealed. “I questioned everything. I wondered if all the preparation had been for nothing.”For any elite athlete, such moments can define a career. But for Tejaswin, they became the beginning of an extraordinary comeback.
From despair to historic bronze
Instead of allowing disappointment to consume him, Tejaswin slowly rebuilt himself over the next few days.“But somewhere along the way, I picked myself back up piece by piece. I was shattered emotionally but kept lying to myself that I was fine. One conversation, one treatment session, one event, one lap at a time,” he added.Competing through pain, the Indian produced a remarkable performance across the gruelling two-day decathlon to finish with 7,976 points and claim the bronze medal — the first ever by an Indian in the event at the Commonwealth Games.It also marked his second Commonwealth Games medal after the high jump bronze in Birmingham four years ago.After clinching the historic podium finish, Tejaswin walked into the mixed zone with a smile replacing the tears seen earlier in the week.“Guys, I won’t cry today,” he joked.The bronze was all the more remarkable considering he had entered the final 1,500m in third place and held on under immense physical and mental pressure to secure the medal.
‘Your belief carried me’
Reflecting on his remarkable turnaround, Tejaswin credited the people around him for helping him rediscover belief when he had lost faith in himself.“Looking back, I realize I didn’t do it alone. To my coaches, medical team, teammates, family, friends, sponsors, and every single person who called, messaged, or reached out on social media… thank you. Your belief carried me when I was struggling very hard to believe in myself,” he wrote.
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The athlete also reflected on the deeper lessons sport continues to teach.“Sport has a funny way of testing you. Sometimes it isn’t about being the strongest or the most talented. Sometimes it’s simply about refusing to stay down.”“Proud to leave the Commonwealth Games with a bronze medal around my neck. It wasn’t the path I imagined, but it taught me more than an easy victory ever could,” he added.With Glasgow behind him, Tejaswin has already shifted his focus to the next challenge.“Asian Games, see you soon. The Beast Never Stops,” he concluded.
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