Indian decathlete Shankar wins historic Commonwealth bronze

Indian decathlete Tejaswin Shankar made history on Friday, July 31, 2026, by winning a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, becoming the first athlete from India to ever medal in the event. Shankar secured the podium finish with a total score of 7,976 points across the grueling two-day, ten-discipline competition.

The 27-year-old’s achievement was marked by significant adversity, as he competed while managing a painful knee injury. Just days before the decathlon, a flare-up of patellar tendinitis forced him to withdraw from the individual high jump event, casting doubt on his ability to complete the demanding decathlon schedule. Reflecting on his mindset, Shankar said he focused on taking the challenge one step at a time, an approach that allowed him to execute each event individually.

His performance was a testament to resilience. After a cautious start in the 100-meter sprint, Shankar immediately rebounded by topping the field in the long jump with a personal best of 7.82 meters. He excelled in his signature event, the high jump, clearing 2.15 meters, and maintained consistent form throughout the competition. The final drama unfolded in the last event,...