'I gave up': Tejaswin's confession after turning heartbreak into historic bronze
Tejaswin Shankar endured emotional turmoil after a knee injury at the Commonwealth Games. He briefly gave up before picking himself up to compete. The athlete then secured India's first decathlon medal with a bronze. He credited his support system for helping him regain belief. Shankar now focuses on the upcoming Asian Games.
The Indian decathlete, Tejaswin Shankar, has shared his emotional journey at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, where he turned his heartbreak into history by winning India's first-ever bronze medal in the decathlon. The 27-year-old faced a tumultuous period, including a recurring knee injury that threatened to derail his hopes in the high jump event.
Tejaswin admitted that he "gave up" momentarily, questioning the purpose of his preparation. However, he persevered, rebuilding himself piece by piece and competing through the pain. His remarkable comeback culminated in a historic podium finish, with a bronze medal won after entering the final 1,500m in third place. Tejaswin credited his coaches, medical team, teammates, family, friends, sponsors, and social media supporters for their unwavering belief in him during his darkest moments.
Reflecting on his journey, the athlete emphasized that sport often tests more than physical strength or talent; sometimes, it's about refusing to stay down. Tejaswin expressed pride in his bronze medal, acknowledging that the path to victory was far from easy. As he moves on to the Asian Games, he has already set his sights on future challenges.
Written by urgent.news from Times of India's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
