Tejaswin Shankar.
| Picture Credit score: Particular Association
With the wait to higher his excessive bounce nationwide file getting longer and torturous, Tejaswin Shankar is now seeking to the decathlon for consolation.
He’s now aiming to grow to be the primary Indian to interrupt the 8000-point barrier within the multi-eventer and feels he might get there quickly.
“I actually really feel that I can get to 8000 earlier than (excessive bounce’s) 2.30m however I don’t wish to jinx myself as a result of I’ve been ready for practically eight years for that 2.30.
“That’s the entire cause I made a decision to do the mixed occasions so I actually wish to get that first,” stated Shankar, the Asian Video games decathlon silver medallist, in a chat with The Hindu.
“The two.29 (his excessive bounce nationwide file) is the worst quantity to ever be, I’d somewhat be on 2.28 than be at 2.29 and never be at 2.30.”
The 26-year-old broke the decathlon Nationwide file (new file 7666 factors) on the final Asian Video games and his performances within the latest Nationwide Federation Athletics Championships in Kochi point out that he’s getting nearer to 8000.
“For me, the most important positives in Kochi had been the javelin and the 1500m, the final two occasions,” stated Shankar, additionally decathlon’s Asian bronze medallist and the excessive bounce bronze medallist on the 2022 Commonwealth Video games.
“My first throw was a private greatest by 2m and I used to be additionally very pleased in regards to the 1500 as a result of it’s essentially the most dreaded occasion.
“In Kochi, the most important problem for me was not about attempting to run behind any individual and run time, somewhat I needed to run the worst time and lead the race and that’s what I used to be attempting to do, particularly after the primary lap. And I shocked myself on the finish.”
That introduced him a private greatest too. Shankar would have hit one other excessive within the pole vault too however there was an issue.
“My greatest is 4.10m however I jumped 4m. The explanation I couldn’t take the subsequent top was simply because I didn’t have an even bigger pole,” he stated.
After specializing in the excessive bounce in an try to qualify for the Paris Olympics final 12 months, Shankar is totally into the multi-eventer this season.
“This 12 months and onwards, particularly till LA 2028 Olympics, the aim could be to attempt to grow to be the very best mixed occasions athlete I could be. That doesn’t imply I’m not going to the excessive bounce in between however that’s not my major aim.
“Even when I do 2.30m in these competitions, that doesn’t imply my major aim is to maneuver to the excessive bounce however to attempt to get as many factors as I can.”
Shankar is now searching for a contest in Europe to enhance his decathlon file.
“The aim is to attempt to get a contest in Europe later this 12 months the place I can, with out worrying in regards to the outcomes,” simply rating as massive as I can as a result of the circumstances shall be a bit extra pleasant. As a result of climate positively performs a task,” he stated.
Revealed – April 26, 2025 10:09 pm IST
