Rijiju hails Tejaswin Shankar's Decathlon Bronze at Asian Games 2026
Synopsis
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju congratulated Tejaswin Shankar on winning the Bronze Medal in the Men's Decathlon at the Asian Games 2026, hailing the result as a remarkable all-round performance for India on September 27, 2026.
Key Takeaways
Tejaswin Shankar won the Bronze Medal in the Men's Decathlon at Asian Games 2026 .
The decathlon spans ten track and field disciplines contested over two days, making it one of sport's most demanding events.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju publicly congratulated Shankar on September 27, 2026 , via X.
Rijiju used the hashtags #AsianGames2026 and #Cheer4Bharat , amplifying the achievement to a national audience.
The Asian Games is organised by the Olympic Council of Asia every four years and is the continent's top multi-sport competition.
The result marks a significant moment for Indian athletics in combined-events, a discipline where podium finishes have been rare.
Ten gruelling disciplines. One shining podium moment. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju took to X on Sunday, September 27, 2026, to congratulate Tejaswin Shankar on claiming the Bronze Medal in the Men's Decathlon at the Asian Games 2026 — saluting what he called 'a remarkable all-round performance for Bharat.'
Ten events, one athlete, a continental podium
The decathlon is the ultimate test of athletic versatility — competitors battle across 100 metres, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400 metres, 110 metres hurdles, discus throw, pole vault, javelin throw, and 1500 metres over two punishing days. A podium finish demands not a single world-class skill, but ten of them working in concert. Shankar's bronze at the Asian Games is precisely that kind of result — earned across every lane, pit, and runway on the track.
Tejaswin Shankar is one of India's most accomplished multi-event athletes, with a track record of representing the country at the highest continental and global levels. His specialisation in the decathlon has placed him at the frontier of Indian athletics, a discipline historically dominated by East Asian and West Asian nations at the continental games.
Rijiju's recognition and what it signals for Indian athletics
Minister Rijiju's message — pitched with the opening line 'TEN EVENTS. ONE PODIUM.' — captured the scale of the achievement before a single name was mentioned. The framing was deliberate: the decathlon's complexity deserves its own headline. Senior government figures routinely acknowledge individual medal wins at multi-sport events, and Rijiju, who has long championed Indian sport in his public communications, was among the first to amplify Shankar's result to a national audience.
The Asian Games, organised by the Olympic Council of Asia every four years, is the continent's premier multi-sport competition and serves as a critical proving ground ahead of Olympic cycles. A decathlon bronze here carries continental weight — it places Shankar on the podium against the best all-round track and field athletes across Asia.
India's athletics contingent continues to push for a broader medal footprint at continental games, moving beyond traditional sprinting and distance-running strengths. A decathlon bronze fits that expanding ambition perfectly — and Shankar's name now sits alongside a very small group of Indians to have stood on an Asian Games athletics podium in a combined-events discipline.
Point of View
Decade-long push by Indian athletics to deepen its medal spread beyond sprints and field throws. Senior ministers like Rijiju amplifying individual multi-event wins on social media serves a dual purpose: it validates investment in less mainstream disciplines and raises athlete profiles ahead of Olympic qualification cycles. The decathlon, historically a blind spot for India at continental games, now has a name and a podium attached to it — that changes the conversation for coaches, selectors, and funding bodies. Whether this bronze accelerates structured support for combined-events athletes in India will be the real test of its long-term significance.
NationPress
27 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Tejaswin Shankar?
Tejaswin Shankar is an Indian track and field athlete who specialises in the decathlon and has represented India in major international competitions, including continental and global multi-sport events.
What is the decathlon in athletics?
The decathlon is a combined track and field event comprising ten disciplines — 100m, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400m, 110m hurdles, discus throw, pole vault, javelin throw, and 1500m — contested over two days. The winner is the athlete with the highest cumulative points score.
What medal did India win in the decathlon at Asian Games 2026?
India's Tejaswin Shankar won the Bronze Medal in the Men's Decathlon at the Asian Games 2026, as confirmed by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju's post on September 27, 2026.
Why did Kiren Rijiju congratulate Tejaswin Shankar?
Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, congratulated Shankar on his Men's Decathlon bronze medal at Asian Games 2026, calling it 'a remarkable all-round performance for Bharat' and using the hashtags #AsianGames2026 and #Cheer4Bharat.
What are the Asian Games?
The Asian Games are a continental multi-sport event organised every four years by the Olympic Council of Asia, featuring athletes from across Asia competing across a wide range of sports. They are one of the largest multi-sport events in the world after the Olympics.
