Rijiju Hails Tejaswin Shankar's Historic CWG Decathlon Bronze
Synopsis
Tejaswin Shankar wins bronze in the Men's Decathlon at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow — India's first-ever CWG medal in the event. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju celebrated the historic achievement, calling it a new milestone for Indian athletics.
Key Takeaways
Tejaswin Shankar won the bronze medal in the Men's Decathlon at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow .
This is India's first-ever Commonwealth Games medal in the men's decathlon event.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju congratulated Shankar on 1 August 2026 , calling it 'a new milestone for Indian athletics.' India won 61 medals at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games but none in the men's decathlon.
India has been steadily expanding its athletics presence at the Commonwealth Games since 2010 , moving beyond traditional strengths in shooting, wrestling, and weightlifting.
The result carries added significance with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics athletics squad selections on the horizon.
India's athletics story just got a new chapter. Tejaswin Shankar claimed a bronze medal in the Men's Decathlon at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow — the first time India has ever stood on the podium in that event at the Games — and Union Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju was among the first to mark the moment on Saturday, 1 August 2026.
Rijiju called it 'a new milestone for Indian athletics,' describing Shankar's feat as 'Bharat's first-ever CWG medal in the event' and adding: 'A truly remarkable achievement!' The congratulatory post, tagged #Cheer4Bharat and #CWG2026, captured the significance of a result that fills a long-standing blank on India's Commonwealth Games athletics record.
What makes the decathlon medal so significant
The decathlon — ten disciplines spread across two days, combining sprints, jumps, throws, and middle-distance running — is among the most gruelling tests in track and field. India has historically punched above its weight at the Commonwealth Games in disciplines such as shooting, wrestling, and weightlifting, but the multi-event disciplines had remained out of reach. A bronze here is not a consolation; it is a door opening.
Shankar is no stranger to breaking ground. The athlete competes in both the decathlon and high jump at the international level, and his versatility has made him one of the more watched names in Indian athletics. At Birmingham 2022, India finished with 61 medals across the Games but returned empty-handed from the men's decathlon. Glasgow 2026 changes that ledger.
India's expanding athletics footprint at the Commonwealth Games
The broader pattern is worth noting. Since 2010, India has steadily widened its athletics ambitions at each Commonwealth Games edition — moving beyond its traditional strongholds and investing in exposure tours and domestic training infrastructure. Medals in previously uncharted events, like this decathlon bronze, reflect that incremental build rather than a sudden leap.
With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics on the horizon, performances at Glasgow will feed directly into selection conversations for India's athletics squad. Shankar's podium finish arrives at exactly the right moment in that cycle.
India's first CWG decathlon medal did not come with fanfare built in advance — it was earned across ten events, one discipline at a time. That is precisely what makes it worth remembering.
Point of View
Long-running effort by Indian athletics to broaden its Commonwealth Games footprint beyond traditional medal disciplines. For the BJP government, which has consistently used sports diplomacy and athlete recognition as soft-power tools, Rijiju's swift public acknowledgement fits a pattern of ministerial visibility around Indian podium moments. The result also arrives at a strategically important time: with the 2028 Olympics selection cycle beginning, a historic CWG medal in a gruelling multi-event discipline strengthens the case for greater investment in Indian track and field. The real test will be whether institutional support follows the ministerial congratulations.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Tejaswin Shankar?
Tejaswin Shankar is an Indian track and field athlete who competes in the decathlon and high jump at the international level. He became the first Indian to win a Commonwealth Games medal in the men's decathlon at the 2026 Glasgow Games.
What is the decathlon in athletics?
The decathlon is a combined track and field event comprising ten disciplines — including sprints, hurdles, jumps, pole vault, and throws — contested over two days. It is widely regarded as one of the most demanding tests of all-round athletic ability.
Has India ever won a CWG medal in decathlon before?
No. Tejaswin Shankar's bronze at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow is India's first-ever medal in the men's decathlon at the Commonwealth Games.
What did Kiren Rijiju say about Tejaswin Shankar's medal?
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju called the achievement 'a new milestone for Indian athletics' and described it as 'Bharat's first-ever CWG medal in the event,' adding that it was 'a truly remarkable achievement.'
How did India perform at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games in athletics?
India won 61 medals in total at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games across multiple disciplines, but did not win any medal in the men's decathlon event.
