India’s Tejaswin Shankar, 27, secured a gold medal at the 12th Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in Tianjin, China. Shankar set a national record by scoring 5993 points in the heptathlon event, surpassing his own previous record of 5650 points. The Indian team, with a total of five medals including one gold, finished sixth overall in the medal standings.
Asian powerhouse China dominated the championships, topping the medal tally with 34 medals, including 10 gold, 11 silver, and 13 bronze. Shankar’s victory in the heptathlon was highlighted by his exceptional performance across various events, including the 60m hurdles, pole vault, and 1000m race.
In addition to Shankar’s gold, other Indian athletes also excelled at the championships. Pooja secured a silver medal in high jump, Tajinderpal Singh Toor claimed silver in shot put, and Ancy Sojan won bronze in long jump. Shankar’s remarkable display of skill and determination throughout the competition earned him not only the gold but also a personal best and a national record.
Shankar’s achievement adds to his already impressive track record, including holding the national decathlon record and winning silver in the decathlon at the 2022 Asian Games. Tajinderpal Singh Toor’s season-best throw of 20.05m earned him a silver medal in the men’s shot put event, showcasing India’s strength in field events.
India’s medal tally was further boosted by Pooja’s silver in women’s high jump and Ancy Sojan’s bronze in the long jump. Despite some near misses and strong competition from other nations, Indian athletes displayed commendable performances across various disciplines at the championships.
