Indian athlete Tejaswin Shankar on Saturday (August 1) became the first-ever medallist in men’s decathlon in Commonwealth Games history after he bagged the bronze medal in the 2026 edition on Friday. The National Record-Holder battled through a chronic knee injury to collect a total of 7,976 points in the arduous 10-event discipline in Glasgow.
Competing despite long-standing patellar tendinitis, also known as jumper’s knee, Tejaswin produced a remarkable performance across the gruelling two days. The medal added to his high jump bronze from the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, making it his second podium finish at the Games.
The 27-year-old had suffered an emotional setback earlier in the Glasgow Games when he was forced to withdraw from
the men’s high jump after aggravating the knee injury following his opening attempt. Visibly heartbroken, Tejaswin was reduced to tears after pulling out of the event.
However, he showed immense resilience to bounce back in the decathlon.
Tejaswin ended the opening day in second place behind Canada’s Damian Warner and remained in medal contention throughout the competition. He climbed to third after the ninth event, the javelin throw, before sealing the bronze with a fifth-place finish in the concluding 1500m race.
His tally of 7,976 points was just short of his own national record of 8,057, but enough to secure a historic podium finish for India in the event.
Grenada’s Paris Olympics bronze medallist Lindon Victor claimed the gold with 8,096 points, while Warner settled for silver with 8,036.
Tejaswin’s bronze adds another significant chapter to an already decorated career. Besides holding the national decathlon record, he also won silver at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, establishing himself as one of Asia’s leading combined-event athletes.
Despite competing under physical discomfort, Tejaswin’s determination and consistency across all 10 disciplines ensured India celebrated a landmark achievement, with the Delhi-born athlete becoming the country’s first-ever Commonwealth Games medallist in the decathlon.
