Tejaswin Shankar bags bronze in high jump at Commonwealth Games

The athlete set a mark of 2.22m in the finals.

Tejaswin Shankar of India won bronze in the men's high jump final with a mark of 2.22m on Wednesday at the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham. Shankar and former world and Commonwealth Games champion Donald Thomas of the Bahamas were tied for third place in the men's high jump finals, but the Indian athlete took home the nation's first track and field medal because he committed fewer fouls.

On countback, the national record holder Tejaswin Shankar cleared 2.22m to finish third. Donald Thomas of the Bahamas and Joel Clarke-Khan of the United Kingdom also cleared 2.22m, but it took them several attempts, whereas Shankar needed only one thus making him the bronze medalist at CWG 2022.

Shankar, 23, failed twice to jump higher than 2.25m. He attempted 2.28m in his third and final attempt to win silver but failed. Prior to Shankar, Bhim Singh had the best performance by an Indian in the men's high jump at the Commonwealth Games, clearing 2.06 meters in Edinburgh in 1970.

Getting Better from Gold Coast

Shankar finished sixth in the Gold Coast competition in 2018 with the best jump of 2.24m. Whereas learning from his mistakes from the last commonwealth game Shankar worked hard this time despite of all the controversies that were around him he didn't fail to secure India’s first athletic medal at CWG.

Shankar was given the clearance a week before the games by Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court added Tejaswin Shankar to the squad just before the opening ceremony, who has a season's best of 2.27m and a personal best of 2.29m, in the Indian track and field team. With less than a week until the opening ceremony, CWG organizers granted Tejwasin permission to compete. Following a Delegate Registration Meeting, the IOA received confirmation from the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and Birmingham CWG organizers that Shankar's late entry had been accepted (DRM).

The drama surrounding his participation prevented him from attending the opening ceremony because he arrived late, but the Indian did not ultimately let this affect his performance.