Indian decathlete Tejaswin Shankar turned one of the most inspiring stories of the Commonwealth Games into reality, overcoming a painful knee injury to claim a historic bronze medal before celebrating in a unique way inspired by tennis legend Novak Djokovic.
Moments after completing his victory lap at Glasgow’s Scotstoun Stadium, Tejaswin walked to the centre of the field, plucked a handful of grass and ate it—a tribute to Djokovic’s iconic Wimbledon tradition. For the athlete, it was a symbolic celebration of a medal that had seemed impossible just days earlier.
Tejaswin became the first Indian to win a Commonwealth Games medal in the decathlon despite competing with severe tendinitis, commonly known as jumper’s knee. The injury had already forced him to withdraw from the high jump competition two days before the decathlon, leaving him convinced that his medal hopes were over.
Reflecting on the achievement, Tejaswin admitted he struggled to believe what he had accomplished.
“It felt unreal. I kept wondering how I had managed to win a Commonwealth Games medal with one-and-a-half legs,” he recalled.
The emotional journey had begun days earlier when his knee injury worsened. Overwhelmed by disappointment, the athlete broke down after exiting the competition area, believing his campaign had come to an abrupt end. He even spent hours searching online for recovery options and considered skipping the Commonwealth Games altogether to focus on future tournaments.
A medical assessment from team doctor Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala offered a glimmer of hope. Although the knee was badly inflamed, there was no ligament rupture, meaning competing remained possible if the pain could be managed.
The real turnaround came through the efforts of India’s support staff. Strength and conditioning coach Wayne Lombard and team physiotherapist Mayur Thakkar worked tirelessly over the next two days, putting Tejaswin through intensive rehabilitation sessions that included soft tissue treatment, hyperbaric oxygen therapy and red-light therapy. Their efforts helped him regain enough fitness to take his place in the decathlon.
Even then, the challenges did not end. On the opening morning of the competition, Tejaswin rolled his ankle during his warm-up, though fortunately the injury proved to be only a scare. His first event, the 100 metres, was affected by nerves as he focused more on protecting his injured knee than executing his race.
His campaign gathered momentum in the long jump, where he produced a personal best leap of 7.82 metres. The performance not only boosted his points tally but also restored his confidence that a podium finish was still within reach.
The high jump remained the toughest test because it placed maximum pressure on his injured take-off leg. Carefully managing the pain, he limited his attempts and successfully cleared key heights to stay in medal contention.
After finishing the opening day in second place, Tejaswin slipped to fourth following the pole vault despite recording a personal best in the discus throw. However, a brilliant javelin throw of 53.12 metres proved decisive, giving him a crucial advantage over his nearest rival heading into the final 1,500-metre race and ultimately securing the bronze medal.
For Tejaswin, the historic podium finish was about much more than adding another medal to India’s tally. It became a lesson in resilience, mental strength and perseverance under extreme adversity.
He believes the experience has prepared him for the biggest stages in athletics, where success is determined not only by physical ability but also by the capacity to overcome setbacks and perform under pressure.
His emotional celebration—complete with a Djokovic-inspired bite of grass—perfectly captured the significance of a medal earned through determination, courage and an unwavering refusal to give up.
