Tejaswin Shankar is just a 17-year-old boy from Delhi. Not just that, he has defied all the odds with sheer determination, dedication and hard work to become Asia's No. 1 high jumper in his category - something not many attain at his age.
He has cleared incredible heights in high jump, good enough to fetch medals in international events. Over the years, Tejaswin has not only cleared the bar but also landed on the ground comfortably.
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The youngest in the Indian athletics contingent, Shankar is an Asian Youth Championships medal-winner. The Class XI student of Delhi’s Sardar Patel Vidyalaya took part in his first senior-level event at the recently concluded South Asian Games.
Grabbing headlines at the South Asian Games
Not letting his inexperience come into play, he grabbed a silver medal in Shillong. On the basis of his silver-medal winning jump, Shankar qualified for the World Junior Championship in Poland this July and also moved to No. 4 in the IAAF’s World Youth rankings.
Speaking exclusively to Sportskeeda, he says, “When I won the gold medal at the Youth Commonwealth Games last year, I created a new high-jump record of 2.14m. For 5 months, I was stuck at 2.14. But at the South Asian Games, I improved my personal best, from 2.14 metres to 2.15 metres and then to 2.17 in less than a fortnight.”
He adds, “In spite of being the top-ranked Asian under-18 high jumper, I have never participated in a national men's event. The irony is, the South Asian Games was my first senior international medal.”
Shankar was up against Olympian WP Manjula Kumara, a gold medalist at the Asian Championships, in the finals. Though both were tied at 2.17m, he had to settle for silver because of a previous foul that he committed.
He says, “I don't know how many have got so many awards at my age but it is certainly a nice feeling. I believe, I have a long road ahead of me.”
For a country which often returns empty-handed from Olympics in athletics, there is an amazing talent.
Watched videos of athletes on YouTube
Shankar knew nothing about track and field. But when his interest started growing, it spread like wildfire.
His school Physical Education teacher in school taught him the basics of athletics. He says, "Sunil Kumar encouraged me to watch videos of athletes on YouTube so that I develop a passion for this sport. According to him, it is important to develop an interest before pursuing a sport."
Being a cricket fan at heart, Shankar took inspiration from Virender Sehwag. He says, "I admire his carefree nature because I feel it is like taking unnecessary pressure on yourself and ending up not performing."
Tejashwin is currently supported by JSW Sports under the Sports Excellence Programme. He says, “I will go from strength to strength now that I have signed with JSW. They are funding my training in the USA.”
“At times, people say I am rushing since I have a lot of time. But, I believe there is nothing called time in an athlete's life," adds Shankar.
Losing father at an early age
Such is his dedication to the sport that even after his father's sudden demise due to blood cancer, he continued playing a sport less followed in India.
Shankar says, “I was ready to quit the sport but my mother asked me not to worry. I became more mature and focused at a young age, ready to put my heart and soul into this sport to make my father proud.”
Something which he used to pursue for fun, suddenly became his passion. He recalls, “My father wanted me to be a lawyer but after seeing my passion for athletics, he encouraged me a lot.”
“He did not live to see me make the national team but I am sure he would have been the happiest person,” adds Tejaswin.
Although he has a long way to go in the world of athletics, the Delhi-boy has already proved that he has the talent to be amongst the front-runners in the major athletics events around the world.
Tejaswin is indeed one of the bright prospects in Indian athletics. Yes, he can make India a powerhouse of athletics in the near future.
