India's Tejaswin Shankar Wins Gold at Asian Indoor Championships

The 2026 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships took place in Tianjin, China, and concluded on February 8, 2026. India competed well at the event, earning a total of five medals. India finished sixth in the overall medal standings. The Indian team won one gold medal, two silver medals, and two bronze medals. China topped the medal table with a total of 34 medals, including 10 gold, 11 silver, and 13 bronze. In this championship, Tejaswin Shankar made history by winning the men's heptathlon gold medal for India. He scored a total of 5,993 points, which is the highest ever in this event at an indoor championship for India. This score also broke the previous Indian national indoor record of 5,650 points, which was set in 2021 in the USA. Tejaswin Shankar's performance was outstanding. He achieved personal bests in several events within the heptathlon. These included a 60-meter dash in 7.11 seconds, a hurdles time of 8.02 seconds, and a pole vault clearance of 4.20 meters. In the 1,000-meter run, he finished in 2 minutes 43.91 seconds. His efforts contributed to his record-breaking points total and earned him the gold medal. This was Tejaswin Shankar's second major record in recent years. He also holds the national decathlon record of 7,826 points, which he set in Poland in 2024. He is known as a versatile athlete, excelling in multiple events. He is a two-time NCAA high jump champion, showcasing his talent in high jump competitions. Apart from his achievement in the heptathlon, other Indian athletes also performed well at the championships. Pooja won a silver medal in the women’s high jump by clearing 1.87 meters. Tajinderpal Singh Toor earned a silver in men's shot put with a season-best throw of 20.05 meters. Ancy Sojan secured bronze in women’s long jump with her best effort of 6.21 meters. Additionally, Aadrash Ram Jothi Shankar won a bronze medal in the men's high jump. Tejaswin Shankar's 2026 indoor championship performance included several key performances. These included a 60 meters hurdles time of 8.02 seconds, a pole vault clearance of 4.20 meters, and a 1,000 meters run in 2:43.91. These accomplishments show his strength across multiple athletic disciplines. The Asian Indoor Championships are important for Asian athletes as they provide a platform to showcase their talents and improve their international rankings. For Tejaswin Shankar, the gold medal and record-breaking performance highlight his status as one of the leading multi-event athletes in Asia. His success not only adds to his personal achievements but also brings recognition to Indian athletics. The championship in Tianjin was a significant event in the athletics calendar for 2026. It gathers top athletes from across Asia, competing in various indoor track and field events. India’s performance at the event, with five medals, demonstrates progress in the sport and the potential for future success. Tejaswin Shankar's achievements have received recognition for their historic significance. His victory marks India’s only gold medal at the 2026 championships, emphasizing its importance. His record-breaking scores and medals set a new benchmark for Indian athletes in indoor athletics. Overall, the 2026 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships showed strong performances from Indian athletes, highlighted by Tejaswin Shankar’s gold medal and record. The event underscored India’s growing strength in track and field sports. Moving forward, athletes like Shankar are expected to continue improving and competing at even higher levels in international competitions.