India witnessed a landmark athletics meet at the 2026 Federation Cup in Ranchi, where Vishal TK became the first Indian to run sub-45 in the 400m, Gurindervir Singh set a new 100m national record, and Tejaswin Shankar crossed 8000 points in decathlon.
Frustrated with the delay in the announcement of the National Sports awards, Asian Games silver medallist decathlon athlete Tejaswin Shankar has voiced strong criticism of the Sports Ministry, describing the situation as both “demotivating” and a “sign of disrespect” towards athletes and coaches.
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) named the squad on Thursday, confirming that the team will leave for China on February 3.
After his stellar performance at Arizona, Tejaswin competed in two more Decathlon events -- the 62nd National Interstate Senior Athletics Championship and, most recently, the Asian Athletics Championships.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS)’s Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) has approved leading athletes Avinash Sable and Tejaswin Shankar’s proposals to train and compete abroad.
On Wednesday, he stood on the Alexander Stadium podium with a bronze medal around his neck and a satisfied smile on his lips, having won his first medal in a major multi-discipline international competition.
Tejaswin's name was suggested as a replacement for quarter-miler Arokia Rajiv, who withdrew from the National Inter-State Athletics Championships due to illness and was therefore considered not fit to take part in the Commonwealth Games.
Shankar was at the High Court because his name was not on the list of 36 names chosen by the federation for the CWG squad.
He was not included in the list of 37 names picked by the federation that held a selection committee meeting last week.
Shankar, a 22-year-old student of the Kansas State University, will have to clear 2.33 meters, the qualification mark, to book his ticket to the Olympics, scheduled to begin on July 23.
