High Jump Final Drama in Glasgow
India‘s Tejaswin Shankar withdrew from the men’s high jump final at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow on Monday. This decision came after he failed to clear the opening height of 2.05 metres on his first attempt. Following the jump, the 27-year-old appeared to be in discomfort and subsequently pulled out of the event at Scotstoun Stadium.
The withdrawal was preceded by initial confusion regarding his participation. The official results platform for the Commonwealth Games 2026 mistakenly listed Tejaswin Shankar as DNS (Did Not Start) for the men’s high jump final. This error initially suggested that India’s representation in the final had been reduced from three athletes to two.
However, live telecast pictures quickly clarified the situation, showing Shankar warming up and preparing to compete alongside his teammates, Sarvesh Kushare and J Aadarsh Ram. The DNS status was later identified as an administrative error on the official website, shifting attention to Shankar‘s performance on the runway.
Shankar’s Recent Form and Commonwealth Games History
Tejaswin Shankar arrived in Glasgow as the defending bronze medallist in the high jump. At the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, he made history by becoming the first Indian athlete to secure a medal in the men’s high jump event. This achievement had set high expectations for his performance in the current Games.
His form throughout 2026 had been notable, particularly in combined events. In February, he secured the Asian Indoor Championships heptathlon title, setting an Indian record of 5,993 points. Three months later, at the Federation Cup in Ranchi, Shankar became the first Indian athlete to surpass the 8,000-point mark in the decathlon, establishing a national record of 8,057 points. These results had positioned him as one of India’s most versatile track-and-field athletes leading into the Commonwealth Games.
Beyond his decathlon achievements, Shankar has also excelled as a high jumper. He established the Indian outdoor high jump record at 2.29m in 2018 and the indoor national record at 2.28m, both of which remain among the best performances by an Indian athlete in the discipline. Earlier in his career, he won gold at the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games.
Born on December 21, 1998, in Saket, New Delhi, Tejaswin Shankar initially aspired to be a fast bowler in cricket. His physical education teacher at Sardar Patel Vidyalaya encouraged him to take up athletics to improve his speed and agility for cricket, which eventually led him to focus on high jumping. His journey was also marked by personal challenges, including the loss of his father in 2014. With the support of his mother, Lakshmi, he continued his athletic pursuits.
In 2017, Shankar received a four-year athletics scholarship to Kansas State University in the United States, where he pursued a degree in accounting and finance while competing in the NCAA circuit.
Uncertainty for Decathlon Participation
The early exit from the high jump final represents a setback for Shankar. There has been no immediate official statement regarding the nature of his discomfort or injury. Organisers and the Indian contingent have also not commented on whether this issue might affect his planned participation in the decathlon, which is scheduled for later in the Games.
Despite the high jump incident, India continued to add to its medal tally on Monday. Gyaneshwari Yadav secured a silver medal in the women’s 53kg weightlifting event, and Bindyarani Devi earned a bronze medal in the women’s 58kg category, keeping the nation’s medal count progressing.
The Indian contingent awaits clearer medical updates regarding Tejaswin Shankar’s condition and his potential involvement in the multi-event competition.
Source: outlookindia.com
