Tejaswin Shankar has written a fresh chapter for Indian athletics at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow. Fighting through a painful knee problem, the 27-year-old collected 7,976 points across ten events and secured bronze in the men’s decathlon on July 31. It was India’s first Commonwealth Games medal in the event, turning a difficult week into one of the country’s biggest athletics stories from Glasgow.
The result also made Shankar the first Indian to win Commonwealth Games medals in two different athletics events. Four years after taking high jump bronze at Birmingham 2022, he returned to the podium as a decathlete.
How Did Tejaswin Shankar Win The Historic Bronze?
Shankar finished behind Grenada’s Lindon Victor, who won gold with 8,096 points, and Canada’s Damian Warner, who claimed silver with 8,036. The Indian remained in the medal race throughout the two-day contest and ended only 60 points behind Warner.
He stood second after the opening five events. By the end of the ninth event, the javelin throw, Shankar was third. He then protected his podium place with a fifth-place finish in the 1,500m, the last and often most exhausting part of the decathlon. The official Glasgow 2026 medal table lists his bronze among India’s athletics medals.
His final tally was just 81 points below his national record of 8,057. That record, also confirmed on his World Athletics profile, had made him the first Indian decathlete to cross 8,000 points.
Why Was The Medal Won Against Heavy Odds?
The bronze carried extra weight because Shankar competed with chronic patellar tendinitis, commonly called jumper’s knee. The problem had already forced him out of the high jump event after his opening attempt. He left that competition in tears, but returned for ten events spread across two demanding days.
His Glasgow campaign included sprinting, jumping, throwing and middle-distance running while managing pain. The route to bronze can be tracked through a few decisive moments:
- He opened the 100m in 10.96 seconds and stayed close to the leading group.
- A 7.82m long jump brought 1,015 points and pushed him towards the podium places.
- He cleared 2.15m in the high jump despite the same knee problem.
- He entered day two in second position with 4,339 points.
- His javelin and 1,500m performances helped him hold third place until the finish.
The Commonwealth Sport report noted that Victor completed a third straight Games decathlon title, while Shankar added bronze to a day filled with Indian firsts.
What Did Rajnath Singh Say About Tejaswin Shankar?
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised the athlete soon after the result. In his official X post congratulating Tejaswin Shankar, Singh described the medal as a historic achievement and highlighted the determination behind India’s first Commonwealth Games decathlon podium.
The message arrived during a strong stretch for India in Glasgow. Neeraj Chopra won men’s javelin silver, while Yash Vir Singh took bronze with a dramatic final throw. India also celebrated its first Commonwealth Games judo double gold through Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh. As of 10:25 BST on Day 9, the official table placed India tenth with 23 medals: five gold, 12 silver and six bronze.
Shankar’s medal stood apart even in that busy run. Decathlon asks one athlete to tackle ten very different events, leaving little room for a weak day.
What Comes Next For India’s New Decathlon Star?
Shankar’s career has moved through several turns. He began as a high jumper, became a two-time NCAA champion, won bronze at Birmingham 2022, and later shifted his focus towards combined events. He claimed Asian Games silver at Hangzhou with 7,666 points, then raised the Indian record further.
Glasgow has now given him a rare Commonwealth double: bronze in high jump and bronze in decathlon. He has spoken about getting fitter and chasing Asian Games gold next. For Indian athletics, the result may encourage more young athletes to enter combined events, where specialist coaching and long preparation are essential.
The Olympics.com report on Shankar’s Glasgow bronze records the 7,976-point finish and his place behind Victor and Warner. The injured knee, the withdrawal, and the comeback explain why this bronze will be remembered for years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won India’s first Commonwealth Games decathlon medal?
Tejaswin Shankar won bronze at Glasgow 2026, becoming India’s first Commonwealth Games decathlon medallist ever.
How many points did Tejaswin Shankar score?
He scored 7,976 points across ten events in the two-day decathlon competition in Glasgow.
Who won gold and silver in the decathlon?
Lindon Victor won gold, scoring 8,096; Damian Warner took silver with 8,036 points.
What injury did Tejaswin Shankar carry?
He competed with chronic patellar tendinitis, commonly called jumper’s knee, after withdrawing from the high jump.
Did Tejaswin Shankar win a medal in 2022?
Yes, he won men’s high jump bronze at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games held during 2022.
