Now Reading: Tejaswin Shankar targets Asian Games gold after Arjuna recognition
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Tejaswin Shankar targets Asian Games gold after Arjuna recognition
Indian decathlete Tejaswin Shankar, 27, has set his sights on an Asian Games gold and a long career after being named for the Arjuna Award. Shankar became the first Indian to win a Commonwealth Games medal in the men's high jump (bronze, 2.22m in 2022) and later the first to win a decathlon medal at the same Games (bronze in 2026). He told PTI his decathlon scores have improved 150-200 points year-on-year, and he aims for a personal best at the Asian Games to contend for gold.
Shankar acknowledged tougher competition this season, with several athletes near or above 8,000 points, and said his 2023 silver-medal score of 7,666 might not even secure a podium finish now. He will skip the individual high jump to focus solely on the decathlon, and is working to 'bulletproof' a knee issue that disrupted his Glasgow performance. Shankar also said he wants a career spanning two decades, potentially competing at the 2036 Olympics as a 40-year-old, with the Arjuna Award motivating him further.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Tejaswin Shankar's trajectory mirrors a broader shift in Indian athletics: from event specialisation to multi-event versatility, a path that has yielded results in the Commonwealth Games but remains untested at the Asian level. The decathlon demands endurance across ten disciplines, and Shankar's decision to drop the individual high jump for the Asian Games signals strategic prioritisation. India has historically struggled in combined events, no Indian has won an Asian Games decathlon gold. Shankar's target of a personal best (likely over 8,000 points) aligns with the rising global standard needed for Olympic qualification. Next concrete step: the Asian Games decathlon competition in September, where points totals will determine if his gap-narrowing strategy works.
Source: thehindu.com
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