PB Parade! Tejaswin Shankar Delivers India’s First Heptathlon Medal In 16 Years

Tejaswin Shankar rewrote the record books at the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships, storming to men’s heptathlon gold with a massive 5,993 points, a new championship and national record and the second-best score ever by an Asian.

The Indian all-rounder shattered his own national mark by a staggering 343 points, producing one of the finest multi-event performances in continental history.

Athletics, Asian Indoor Championships: Finally, an Asian gold for Tejaswin Shankar! 🔥💪🥇🇮🇳

5993 pts in men’s Heptathlon! TJ was agonizingly close to Mt. 6000 but his efforts will take him to #2 all time in Asia for men’s Heptathlon behind Dmitriy Karpov!

Well done TJ! 👏🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/kgS38xmLcR

— Vishank Razdan (@VishankRazdan) February 8, 2026

The gold

also ended India’s 16-year wait for a heptathlon medal at the Asian level and delivered the country its first gold of the championships.

Shankar set the tone early, piling up personal bests across events. He opened with a PB 7.11s in the 60m, followed by an indoor PB 7.53m in the long jump and 13.63m in the shot put. A season-best 2.23m in the high jump capped a dominant first day, leaving him well clear of the field.

🚨 Tejaswin Shankar wins gold with national record at Asian Indoors 2026!!

India’s Tejaswin Shankar clinched gold in the men’s heptathlon at the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships 2026, registering a massive lifetime-best 5993 points — a new national record.

This is India’s… pic.twitter.com/I1dCmDHIWx

— nnis Sports (@nnis_sports) February 8, 2026

He finished the job in style on the final day, clocking 8.02s (PB) in the 60m hurdles, clearing 4.20m (PB) in pole vault, and holding firm in the 1000m to seal the title with authority.

Already a multiple Asian Games and Asian Championships medallist, Shankar now adds Asian Indoor champion to his résumé.