Sarvesh Kushare reveals how injured Tejaswin Shankar helped him clinch silver at Commonwealth Games 2026
Tejaswin couldn’t compete himself, but he helped Sarvesh
Sarvesh Kushare produced India’s best-ever finish in the men’s high jump event in Commonwealth Games history on Monday. The 31-year-old athlete clinched silver at the Glasgow Games, marking the nation’s 10th medal in the tournament. Kushare finished second by clearing 2.25 metres.
Related: Commonwealth Games 2026: India’s medal tally after Day 4, 27th July
However, that achievement came with support from Sarvesh’s teammate, Tejaswin Shankar, who was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to a recurring knee injury which flared during the warm-up.
Read More: CWG 2026: Tejaswin Shankar ruled out of high jump due to knee injury
Shankar, who won India’s first-ever CWG medal in high jump with a bronze at the Birmingham 2022 Games, could not compete beyond his initial attempt. However, instead of returning to the mixed zone, the Indian athlete remained beside the pit, playing a key role in Kushare’s historic medal win.
Related: Why did Tejaswin Shankar withdraw from men’s high jump final at Commonwealth Games 2026?
Tejaswin’s advice helps Sarvesh Kushare
Following his medal-winning performance at Glasgow, Kushare revealed how Shankar provided him with technical advice throughout the competition, which ultimately helped him secure a podium finish.
“I wanted to clear the height in my first attempt itself, but during 2.25m my rhythm was affected, and my stride became shorter,” Kushare said after the event. “Then TJ (Shankar) told me to move forward in my run-up, and that helped.”
Shankar’s intervention came at a crucial juncture for Kushare. The latter had failed on his first two attempts to clear 2.25m, and Shankar advised him to skip the remaining attempt at that height, conserve energy and move directly to 2.28m.
Only Kushare and Jamaica’s Romaine Beckford remained in contention at 2.25m. Both athletes cleared that height, but failed to clear 2.28m. Since the Jamaican athlete cleared 2.25m on his first attempt, he clinched the gold medal on countback. Kushare, who overtook Shankar’s record from the Birmingham 2022 Games, had to settle for a silver medal.
The other Indian high jumper competing on Monday, Aadarsh Ram, finished fifth after clearing 2.15m.
Shankar, meanwhile, was in tears following his forced withdrawal from the tournament. The 27-year-old has now set his sights on the upcoming decathlon, which starts on Thursday.
Where and when will Commonwealth Games 2026 take place?
The Commonwealth Games 2026 will be held in Glasgow, Scotland, from July 23 to August 2.
What did Sarvesh Kushare win at Commonwealth Games 2026?
He won silver in the men’s high jump, clearing 2.25m, which marked India’s best-ever finish in the event at the CWG.
For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram
Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.