Lone Athlete Tejaswin Shankar in Decathlon Competition Continues His Journey, Advancing in Indian Event
Tejaswin Shankar Aims to Break 8000-Point Barrier in Decathlon
India's Tejaswin Shankar, a rising decathlon star, is setting his sights on a new milestone - entering the 8000-point club. Currently holding the national record of 7,826 points, Tejaswin is determined to add 174 more points to his tally.
The latest achievement came at the Wieslaw Czapiewski Memorial meet in Poland, a competition that Tejaswin had planned his entire year around. In his pursuit of excellence, he travelled to Novi Sad town in Serbia to work with coach Fedja Kamasi, fine-tuning his pole vault technique.
Unlike a regular pole vaulter who begins with smaller poles, Tejaswin started with 15-foot poles in pole vault. This technical discipline of the decathlon has been a learning curve for him, and he admits he is yet to feel truly comfortable.
Tejaswin's next competition is the Inter State Championships in Chennai from August 22-24. However, his ultimate goal is to achieve the 8000-point mark before the next Asian Games.
The pole vault on Day 2 of the decathlon, considered his weak spot, presents a significant challenge. But Tejaswin is undeterred. He has started a weekly video series on YouTube, documenting his training and progress for the Poland competition. The first part of the series was titled '8 weeks out to the national record'.
Tejaswin's strong suit lies in the first day of the decathlon, which includes the 100 meters, long jump, shot put, high jump, and 400 meters. He believes that with continuous hard work and dedication, he can overcome his weaknesses and reach his target.
The 8000-point mark signifies a higher international standard, though the Asian record is 8,725 points, held by Dmitriy Karpov since 2004, and the Asian Games record is 8,384 points, also held by Karpov since 2006. Tejaswin's previous national record was 7666 points, achieved at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
As Tejaswin embarks on this challenging journey, he is eager to make a mark on the international stage. His determination and hard work are a testament to his unwavering spirit and dedication to his sport. With the Inter State Championships ahead, and the Poland competition looming, the decathlon world can expect to see Tejaswin Shankar in action soon.
[1] Asian Games Decathlon Record Held by Dmitriy Karpov since 2006 [2] Asian Record in Decathlon Held by Dmitriy Karpov since 2004 [3] Tejaswin Shankar Breaks Decathlon National Record at Wieslaw Czapiewski Memorial Meet [4] Tejaswin Shankar's Target: Enter the 8000-Point Club in Decathlon
- Despite his success in decathlon, Tejaswin Shankar expresses interest in another popular sport in India - cricket, revealing his wish to watch a match at the iconic Indian cricket stadium, the Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, once he achieves his goal of entering the 8000-point club.
- Over the years, Tejaswin Shankar's achievements in the world of sports, specifically decathlon, have ignited the spark of hope in young athletes across India, paving the way for a new generation of multi-talented sports stars, much like how cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli did for cricket in the nation.
