New Delhi: India’s Tejaswin Shankar secured a bronze medal in the men’s decathlon at the Asian Games on Sunday, finishing his gruelling two-day campaign with a victory in the final 1,500m event.
Shankar accumulated 7,934 points across the 10-event competition. He clocked 4:33.09 to win the 1,500m and secure his place on the podium. Japan’s Yuma Maruyama won gold with 8,123 points, while China’s Chen Xinghua took silver with 8,012.
The Indian national record holder had entered the second day as the overall leader with 4,338 points, following a strong opening day that included the 100m, long jump, shot put, high jump and 400m.
The decathlon tests athletes across 10 disciplines over two days, combining sprinting, jumping, throwing and endurance events. Shankar responded strongly in the final discipline, winning the 1,500m and ensuring that he finished the competition with a medal.
The bronze adds to Shankar’s growing medal collection. He had also won a bronze medal at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games earlier this year.
PM Modi congratulates Shankar
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Shankar on his Asian Games bronze, praising his performance across the demanding 10-event competition.
In a post on X, Modi said competing across multiple events over two days required versatility, endurance and determination, and noted that Shankar displayed all three qualities before finishing his campaign strongly.
The Prime Minister also extended his best wishes to the athlete for his future competitions.
Shankar’s podium finish adds another medal to India’s athletics campaign at the Asian Games and comes after he produced his strongest performance when it mattered most — in the concluding 1,500m race.
