Sarvesh Kushare Secures High Jump Silver as Injury Plagues Indian Hurdles and Field Hopes
India's Sarvesh Kushare claimed silver in the high jump at Glasgow 2026, marking the nation's first able-bodied athletics medal of the Games. While Kushare matched the champion's height, injury forced Tejaswin Shankar out of the competition.
Kushare Matches Height But Loses Gold on Countback
At the Scotstoun Stadium on July 27, 2026, Sarvesh Anil Kushare delivered India’s inaugural able-bodied athletics medal of the 23rd Commonwealth Games. The 31-year-old high jumper cleared 2.25m to secure a silver medal, though the gold narrowly eluded him during a tense final against Jamaica’s Romaine Beckford.
The competition intensity peaked when both athletes faced the 2.28m bar. Despite a supportive silence from the Glasgow crowd during his final leap, Kushare could not clear the height. Although both leaders finished with a best clearance of 2.25m, Beckford took the gold because he cleared that height on his first attempt, whereas Kushare, the Indian national record holder, required three tries to succeed. Kushare noted that the chilling Scottish weather complicated his physical preparation, though he credited teammate Tejaswin Shankar for providing tactical advice throughout the event.
Injury Setbacks for Shankar and Shirse
The day proved significantly more difficult for Tejaswin Shankar, the 2022 bronze medalist. After initial confusion regarding a "Did Not Start" status on the official website—later dismissed as a technical error—Shankar retired from the event following a failed initial attempt at 2.05m. The 27-year-old later confirmed that chronic knee tendonitis had flared up, forcing his withdrawal. Despite the emotional setback, Shankar intends to undergo intensive recovery to compete in the men’s decathlon scheduled for July 31.
On the track, Tejas Shirse faced similar physical distress in the men’s 110m hurdles final. Shirse finished in eighth place with a time of 15.39 seconds. Limping across the finish line, he cited a left ankle injury sustained during pre-race warm-ups as the cause for his diminished performance.
Key Results and Future Outlook
- Sarvesh Kushare: Silver Medal (2.25m). Kushare will now shift focus toward the Asian Games.
- Tejaswin Shankar: DNF due to knee tendonitis; aiming for decathlon recovery.
- Tejas Shirse: 8th Place in 110m hurdles (15.39s) following an ankle injury.
Source: The Hindu — Athletics
