Birmingham
Tejaswin Shankar has written a new chapter in Indian athletics at the Alexander Stadium. First Indian medal in Commonwealth Games high jump. The road to it was not easy. After wearing the bronze medal, he dedicated the achievement to coach Cliff Rovelto. And to the mother.
The Tejaswin Games came through a court order. The 23-year-old was initially not included in the list of Indian athletes for the Commonwealth Games by the Indian Athletics Federation. The reason given was that he did not participate in the senior inter-state championship held in Chennai. Meanwhile, Tejaswin also cleared the Games qualifying mark of 2.27m at the championships in Oregon. But this was not enough for the Federation. Tejaswin challenged the vacated decision in court. The Delhi High Court ruled in favour. Finally the Indian Olympic Association gave permission. He was included in the team only five days before the high jump competition. The visa was received a day before the Games.
Tejaswin forgot everything on the field. He only dreamed of flying over the bar in the high jump pit. The first height of 2.10 meters was a little nervous. Then 2.15, 2.19 and finally 2.22. All the heights were cleared in the first attempt. Both the first two attempts at 2.25 failed. After securing the bronze, he made an attempt at 2.28 but could not break it. New Zealand’s Hamish Kerr won the gold in 2.25m. Australia’s Brendon Starc got the silver.
Tejaswin excelled from junior level. He won gold in the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games. Silver in SAFF Games next year. He missed the 2016 Asian Junior Championship due to injury. Missed the World Junior Championship. Broke the national junior record in the high jump at the age of 17. Harishankar Roy’s 12-year-old record was erased.
Tejaswin was disappointed that he could not win a medal in the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Got sixth place. That year also saw the best height. At the Kansas State Athletics, he cleared 2.29 meters. Coming to Kansas in 2017. A four-year athletics scholarship. Four years in America made Tejaswin a top star. Coach Rovelto became a crucial presence. Next year’s Asian Games is Tejaswin’s next target. Tejaswin also says that he should compete in decathlon.
Tejaswin is of Tamil origin and was born in Delhi. Father Harishankar was a lawyer. He died of cancer in 2014. Then it was Amma who became the light of athletics life.
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