Moments after ending the 1500m, the final occasion of the gruelling two-day decathlon, Tejaswin Shankar walked as much as all his opponents, hugged each and requested them to remain again within the stadium for a couple of minutes extra.
Tejaswin, who achieved the Asian Video games qualifying commonplace set by the Athletics Federation of India, needed a gaggle image with all of the members. “Bhayon kahin nahi jaana hai (Brothers, please don’t go away). We have to take an image and that ought to get revealed within the papers,’” the Commonwealth Video games excessive soar bronze medallist advised them.
And on his command, the athletes eliminated their vests. There they had been, a dozen or so drained males with chiselled abs standing underneath vivid Kalinga Stadium lights in a scorching and humid Bhubaneswar.
Not simply post-event, Tejaswin led the best way all by means of.
The Delhi athlete accrued 7,576 factors (qualification mark: 7,500) in two days, registering three private bests – within the excessive soar, pole vault and discus throw – throughout the ongoing Inter-State meet. Tejaswin, who has returned from the US after a six-year stint, was competing in his first decathlon on Indian soil. He has already accomplished a 7,648 factors decathlon within the US earlier this 12 months, which was simply 10 factors wanting the nationwide document.
Tejaswin insisted we click on a gaggle image of the decathletes. pic.twitter.com/GbeDmq6UTa
— Andrew (@AndrewAmsan) June 17, 2023
The 24-year-old credited the medal to his decathlon opponents who helped him pull off the essential 1500m with a great tempo.
“I don’t suppose I might have been in a position to push by means of within the 1500m occasion if it wasn’t for the others within the race. I dedicate this medal to all of the decathletes who participated on this climate. I don’t deserve this gold, they do. If I might divide my medals into 18 components and provides them to all of the members, I might,” Tejaswin stated.
One of many occasions the place Tejaswin registered an enormous private finest and accrued loads of treasured factors was the pole vault. His vault coach for the day was India’s present nationwide document holder Siva.
“He was serving to me from the sidelines. Pole vault is among the most technical occasions and it’s like fixing a physics equation. It was due to Shiva I might make these minute adjustments and jumped an outright private better of 4m,” stated Tejaswin.
Tejaswin carried ahead the arrogance gained on the pole vault to the javelin throw, the place he recorded a giant throw of 52.32m (46.84 earlier finest).
Earlier than the ultimate occasion of the competition, Tejaswin was in two minds about whether or not to go all out and try and breach the nationwide document or run a easy race and simply deal with qualifying for Asian Video games. He selected the latter. “I hope you don’t write I used to be weak. I noticed that I needed to run under 4 min 30 seconds to interrupt the nationwide document and that was means higher than my nationwide private finest. Then I advised myself it might be higher to interrupt the nationwide document by 200-300 factors subsequent time than simply enhance it by 10,” he stated.
1500m is probably the most dreaded race for decathletes as they attempt to squeeze out each ounce of power from their drained legs to cap off their two-day competitors on a excessive. “You develop a camaraderie on the finish of the occasion. Most of us didn’t even know one another earlier than the occasion however on the finish, we hugged one another shirtless whereas drenched in sweat. That’s the sort of bond we develop,” he stated.
The Pole vault is an space the place he sees loads of scope for enchancment. He feels it’s not an enormous ask to achieve 4.20m or 4.40m with the sort of pace and explosiveness he possesses.
Tejaswin spoke at size along with his opponents after the race. And so they held on to each phrase he uttered, nodding alongside as Tejaswin gave his ‘decathlon masterclass.’
“I wish to be the torchbearer of the game. I noticed that folks got here to look at my pole vault occasion regardless of the insufferable warmth and that’s what I would like. There are tremendously proficient folks within the sport however they have to be highlighted. I feel it’s time to promote the game,” he stated.
Regardless of making his intentions clear that he would deal with decathlon for the Asian Championships and Asian Video games, the excessive soar isn’t going to take a again seat, Tejaswin stated. He has set his sights on the Paris Olympics, the place he hopes to compete in his pet occasion however for now, his focus is on the 10-event contest.
“Simply because I had a great excessive soar I used to be in a position to elevate myself and do effectively within the different 9 occasions. I’ve to deal with leaping increased. I’m aiming at knocking on the doorways of two.30m. Since 2016 yearly I’ve jumped over 2.25m, so if I’ve that consistency why can’t I soar 2.30m? That’s my subsequent goal,” he stated.
With only a month left for the Asian Championships to be held in Bangkok, Tejaswin is planning to pack his baggage and go JSW campus in Bellary for his restoration.
“The actual problem is how effectively I can get well and replenish the fluids I’ve misplaced now. There isn’t sufficient time to make technical adjustments or large enhancements by way of efficiency. I’ve to be extraordinarily contemporary…in order that the 11.20s in 100m turns into a ten.80s and that units the tone for the competitors,” he stated.