Shekhawat hails Tejaswin Shankar's historic CWG 2026 decathlon bronze
Synopsis
Tejaswin Shankar clinched a bronze medal in the men's decathlon at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, becoming the first Indian to win a CWG medal in the discipline. Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat hailed the feat as a landmark moment 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 decathlon , a historic first across all editions since 1934.
Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat congratulated Shankar on Saturday, August 1, 2026 .
Shankar is a versatile track-and-field athlete who has previously represented India at the Asian Games .
India has participated in Commonwealth Games athletics since 1934 , making this podium finish in the decathlon a long-awaited milestone.
Tejaswin Shankar has written his name into Indian athletics history — claiming India's first-ever Commonwealth Games medal in the decathlon at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, a milestone that Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat was quick to celebrate on Saturday.
Posting on X, Minister Shekhawat extended warm congratulations to the athlete, calling the achievement 'an extremely special accomplishment for Indian athletics.' He wrote: 'डेकाथलॉन में भारत का पहला राष्ट्रमंडल खेल पदक जीतना भारतीय एथलेटिक्स के लिए एक अत्यंत विशेष उपलब्धि है' — ('Winning India's first Commonwealth Games medal in the decathlon is an extremely special achievement for Indian athletics.')
Why this bronze is bigger than it looks
The decathlon is the ultimate test of an all-round athlete — ten disciplines, two gruelling days, one champion. India has competed at the Commonwealth Games since 1934, fielding athletics contingents across every edition. Yet the decathlon podium had remained out of reach. Tejaswin Shankar's bronze at Glasgow 2026 is the first time that changes. Shankar is no stranger to breaking ground. The Delhi-born high-jumper-turned-decathlete has previously represented India at the Asian Games and carved a reputation as one of the most technically versatile track-and-field athletes in the country. Transitioning to the full ten-event grind of the decathlon demanded a different kind of preparation — and at Glasgow, it paid off.India's athletics arc at the Commonwealth Games
Indian athletics has shown a steady upward curve at multi-sport events over the past decade. The 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games produced a strong track-and-field haul, and the momentum has carried into Glasgow 2026. Government investment in training infrastructure and international competitive exposure has been a stated priority, with the Commonwealth Games serving as a critical non-Olympic benchmark for the country's athletics programme. Shankar's bronze adds a genuinely new chapter to that story — not just another medal, but a medal in a discipline where India had never stood on the podium before. With athletics events still to conclude at Glasgow, India's overall medal tally and the performances of the remaining contingent will be closely tracked. But whatever follows, August 1, 2026 is already a date Indian athletics will not forget.Point of View
Which has positioned sports achievement as a pillar of national pride, a senior minister's swift public congratulation follows a well-established pattern of amplifying athletic milestones. The decathlon, demanding mastery across ten disciplines, has long been considered beyond India's competitive reach at the global level; a CWG podium finish challenges that assumption directly. Watch whether this result accelerates institutional support for combined-events programmes within the Athletics Federation of India.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Tejaswin Shankar?
Tejaswin Shankar is an Indian track-and-field athlete known for competing in the high jump and decathlon. He has represented India at international multi-sport events including the Asian Games.
What medal did Tejaswin Shankar win at CWG 2026?
Tejaswin Shankar won a bronze medal in the men's decathlon at the 2026 Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow, Scotland.
Is this India's first decathlon medal at the Commonwealth Games?
Yes. Tejaswin Shankar's bronze at Glasgow 2026 is India's first-ever Commonwealth Games medal in the decathlon event.
Where are the 2026 Commonwealth Games being held?
The 2026 Commonwealth Games are being held in Glasgow, Scotland.
Why did Gajendra Singh Shekhawat congratulate Tejaswin Shankar?
As Union Minister of Culture and Tourism and a senior government figure, Shekhawat posted on X to congratulate Shankar on winning India's historic first CWG decathlon medal, calling it 'an extremely special achievement for Indian athletics.'
