Tejaswin Shankar became the first Indian to win a Commonwealth Games medal in the men’s decathlon after battling a long-standing knee injury to claim bronze in Glasgow on Friday.The national record holder finished with a total of 7,976 points in the 10-event competition, which is held over two days. He competed despite dealing with chronic patellar tendinitis, also known as jumper’s knee, an injury that had forced him to withdraw from the men’s high jump event earlier in the Games.The 27-year-old was left emotional after having to pull out of the high jump following his opening attempt because of the injury flare-up.This was Tejaswin’s second Commonwealth Games medal after winning bronze in the men’s high jump at the 2022 Birmingham Games. His national record in the decathlon stands at 8,057 points.Tejaswin, who also won silver in the decathlon at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, ended the opening day in second place after five events, behind Canada’s Damian Warner.He moved into third after the ninth event, the javelin throw, and held on to that position after finishing fifth in the 1,500m, the final event of the competition.Grenada’s Lindon Victor, the Paris Olympics bronze medallist, won the gold with 8,096 points, while Warner took the silver with 8,036 points.“I don’t know if it was adversity or not. But I do know that the competitiveness in me is alive, and in these conditions and environment, I got the kick and the competitiveness,” he said, as quoted by news agency PTI.“I feel good to be in that position where I want to chase something but it is not guaranteed (to get success or not). I feel I am an adrenalin junkie … I was enjoying the challenge, when I was standing for the 1500m (the last of the 10 events).”“I will try to get that feeling back, get fitter and healthier and go and try to win gold in the Asian Games.”
