Two-time Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Tejaswin Shankar has admitted that he almost gave up after suffering a knee injury during the high jump competition at the event, from which he made a comeback to win India’s first decathlon medal at the Games two days later.
Tejaswin amassed 7,976 points across the gruelling 10-event decathlon over two days. He competed despite battling chronic patellar tendinitis (jumper’s knee), the same injury that forced him to withdraw from the men’s high jump earlier in the Glasgow Games.
A heartbroken Tejaswin was left in tears after being forced to withdraw from the high jump after his opening attempt because of a flare-up of his long-standing knee injury.
“There are moments in life when you feel like everything
you have worked for is slipping away,” Tejaswin posted on Instagram on Sunday evening.
“This week, I had one of those moments. I am going to be honest and admit that for a while, I gave up,” Tejaswin said.
The decathlon bronze was Tejaswin’s second CWG medal, after his high jump bronze at Birmingham 2022. His personal best and national record stands at 8,057 points.
“I questioned everything. I wondered if all the preparation had been for nothing. But somewhere along the way, I picked myself back up piece by piece,” Tejaswin wrote.
“I was shattered emotionally but kept lying to myself that I was fine. One conversation, one treatment session, one event, one lap at a time,” Tejaswin said.
“Looking back, I realise I did not do it alone. To my coaches, medical team, teammates, family, friends, sponsors and every single person who called, messaged, or reached out on social media… thank you,” Tejaswin added.
Tejaswin, who won decathlon silver at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games as well, was placed second overnight after the opening five events behind Canada’s Damian Warner, who claimed silver with 8,036 points.
