Indian Athlete Tejaswin Shankar Triumphs Over Olympic Silver Medallist in High Jump Competition
In a stunning performance at the DeLoss Dodds Invitational, a World Athletics Bronze Meet held in Manhattan, Kansas on Friday, India's high jump national record holder Tejaswin Shankar secured a remarkable victory over Paris Olympics silver medallist Shelby McEwen. This win marks a significant milestone for Shankar as he continues his journey towards qualifying for major international championships.
Impressive Performance and Crucial Ranking Points
Featuring in his first athletics meet of the year, Shankar recorded a best jump of 2.26 meters to edge past the home favourite Shelby McEwen, who settled for silver with a best jump of 2.22 meters. This victory is particularly important as it helps Shankar accumulate crucial ranking points for qualification to the World Indoor Championships, enhancing his standing in the global athletics community.
The competition showcased Shankar's exceptional form and determination, highlighting his potential to compete at the highest levels of international athletics. His ability to outperform an Olympic medallist demonstrates the progress he has made in his training and preparation.
Upcoming Asian Indoor Championships and Heptathlon Event
Following this success, Shankar is set to participate in the Asian Indoor Championships in Tianjin, China next month, where he will feature in the heptathlon event. This upcoming competition presents another opportunity for him to showcase his versatility and skills across multiple disciplines, further solidifying his reputation as a formidable athlete.
His participation in the heptathlon reflects his commitment to expanding his athletic capabilities and challenging himself in diverse events, which could prove beneficial for his long-term goals in track and field.
Training in the United States and Olympic Aspirations
Earlier this month, Shankar packed his bags and left for Manhattan for his second stint at Kansas State University (KSU), where he is pursuing a Masters in kinesiology and exercise science. This academic pursuit aligns with his athletic ambitions, as he aims to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Shankar trains with a group of decathletes coached by Kip Janvrin, a former Pan American Games gold medallist. He expressed optimism about his training environment, stating, "I have a consistent training environment. For two years, I’m in the country where the next Olympics is going to take place. I can give myself the best shot at trying to make the LA Olympics. If my journey to the Olympics goes through a classroom, I don’t mind it."
Transition from NCAA and Focus on Decathlon
Unlike others in his training group, Tejaswin can no longer participate in NCAA competitions because he has completed five years on the circuit. At 27 years old, he humorously noted, "My eligibility has expired. Now, I’m just an old guy who’s training. The athletes I train with are all NCAA eligible."
As a decathlon national record holder with 7,826 points, Shankar aims to be the first Indian to break the 8,000-point barrier. Training with a competitive group of decathletes provides him with a significant advantage. He explained, "The coach (Janvrin) has scored some 8,500 points. The idea is to be among 8,000-point calibre athletes so I can break that barrier. There are two guys here who are around 7800-7900 points. So it’s a very strong group. Pole vault is one of their stronger events and one of my weaker ones. So I want to be where I’m pushed in training every day. Unlike in Delhi, where I was practising by myself and coaching myself."
This collaborative training environment is expected to help Shankar improve his weaker events, such as pole vault, and push him towards achieving his goal of surpassing the 8,000-point mark in decathlon.
