Indian hurdler Tejas Shirse made history at the Indian Athletics Series 9 by clocking a remarkable 13.27 seconds in the men’s 110m hurdles, setting a new national record. This performance not only showcased his talent but also boosted his chances for selection in the 2026 Commonwealth Games squad.
Shirse, aged 24, surpassed his own previous national record of 13.41 seconds set in 2024, demonstrating exceptional sprint-hurdle skills. His timing comfortably exceeded the Athletics Federation of India’s Commonwealth Games qualification standard of 13.39 seconds.
Competing in the B final, Shirse sprinted out of the blocks, taking an early lead. Despite a slight stumble at the final hurdle, he maintained his speed and crossed the finish line in 13.27 seconds. Krishik M finished second in 13.55 seconds but couldn’t catch up with the record-breaking performance.
Shirse’s achievement marks a significant improvement from his gold medal-winning run of 13.50 seconds at the recent Federation Cup in Ranchi, placing him among the top performers in Asia this season. His time of 13.27 seconds currently ranks sixth on the list of best performances in Asia for 2026.
The success holds special importance for Indian athletics as Shirse could potentially become the first Indian male hurdler to participate in the Commonwealth Games since Siddharth Thingalaya in 2014. Meanwhile, in the men’s 800m event, national record holder Mohammad Afsal P fell short of the qualification standard with a time of 1:47.00, possibly jeopardizing his chances of making it to the Commonwealth Games team.
In the men’s javelin throw competition, attention shifted to athletes aiming for qualification marks. With top throwers like Sachin Yadav and Neeraj Chopra out due to injury, contenders such as Rohit Yadav, Shivam Lohakare, and Kishore Kumar Jena were vying for spots in the national squad.
