Tejaswin Shankar Claims Asian Games Decathlon Bronze After Hard-Fought Campaign

Indian decathlete Tejaswin Shankar added another major accolade to his career on Sunday, securing a bronze medal at the Asian Games with a total of 7934 points. While the podium finish marks a significant achievement, the 27-year-old from Delhi was candid about his dissatisfaction with the result, suggesting that he felt he had missed out on a silver medal rather than simply securing third place.

The gold medal was claimed by Japan’s Yuma Muruyama, who finished with 8123 points. Despite the gap in the final standings, Shankar finished his campaign on a high note by winning the 1500m race—the final of the ten events—with a time of 4:33.09, narrowly outpacing Muruyama, who clocked 4:33.92. Although the result did not alter the gold medal outcome, it provided a moment of personal redemption for the Indian athlete.

Shankar, who also performed strongly in the long jump and high jump, acknowledged that his heavy competition schedule may have impacted his performance. Having participated in four major decathlon or heptathlon events this year, including the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, he admitted that the workload was demanding. He expressed a desire to refine his competition calendar in collaboration with the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), aiming for a more strategic approach that limits his appearances to three events per year to ensure peak freshness for major championships.

Beyond the track, Shankar maintains a grounded perspective on his dual life as an elite athlete and a graduate teaching assistant in the kinesiology department at Kansas State University. Following a brief period of rest, he is scheduled to return to the United States to resume his academic duties, which include grading assignments for his students. When asked about his status as a role model, Shankar remained humble, emphasizing that his primary motivation is his passion for his work rather than seeking external admiration. He returns to his teaching post immediately, prioritizing his responsibilities to his students as he transitions back from the international stage.