Sarvesh Takes Silver, Tejaswin’s Injury-Time Gesture Defines High Jump Final

Sarvesh Creates History With CWG Silver; Injured Tejaswin’s Sideline Support Defines High Jump Final

Tejaswin Shankar’s Commonwealth Games campaign lasted just one jump. His impact, however, lasted the entire final.

The 2022 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist was initially listed as DNS (Did Not Start) for Monday night’s men’s high jump final in Glasgow. Yet, to the surprise of many, he walked out with the finalists. His comeback lasted only moments.

Attempting the opening height of 2.05m, Tejaswin felt a sharp pain in his knee during take-off and crashed onto the landing mat. He failed to clear the bar and was forced to withdraw immediately. Later, he confirmed that a flare-up of patellar tendinitis, commonly known as jumper’s knee, had ended his competition before it had truly begun.

But while his event was over, Tejaswin refused to leave.

From Competitor to Coach

India had three finalists in the event—Sarvesh Kushare, Aadarsh Ram Jothi Shankar, and Tejaswin. Once ruled out, most athletes would have headed indoors to recover from the chilly Glasgow evening. Tejaswin instead remained beside the pit, watching every jump and advising his teammates.

Throughout the competition, Sarvesh and Aadarsh repeatedly walked over to him between attempts, seeking technical feedback and encouragement.

When Sarvesh missed his first two attempts at 2.25m, Tejaswin even suggested a tactical gamble.

“Why don’t you skip this height and try clearing 2.28m in one attempt? You will win gold.”

Sarvesh trusted his instincts instead.

“No, no, I will clear 2.25m.”

On his third and final attempt, he did exactly that.

Later, Tejaswin dismissed suggestions that he had played a major role, insisting he had simply acted as a sounding board. Yet his presence ensured his teammates never had to deal with the pressure alone.

Historic Silver for Sarvesh

As the bar reached 2.25m, only Sarvesh and Jamaica’s Romaine Beckford remained in contention. Both cleared the height before failing at 2.28m.

The gold medal was decided on countback, with Beckford prevailing after clearing 2.25m on his first attempt.

Sarvesh settled for silver—but it was a historic one. The medal made him the first Indian man to win a Commonwealth Games high jump silver, improving on the country’s previous best of bronze.

Fellow Indian Aadarsh Ram Jothi Shankar finished fifth with 2.15m, while England’s Jack Kimani claimed bronze.

A Breakthrough Year

Sarvesh’s Glasgow success capped an extraordinary season.

Earlier this month, he became the first Indian to clear 2.30m, breaking the national record that Tejaswin had held for eight years. He also finished third at the Monaco Diamond League, becoming only the fourth Indian athlete to reach a Diamond League podium.

His rise has been anything but conventional.

Growing up in Devargaon village in Maharashtra’s Nashik district, Sarvesh trained on makeshift landing pits filled with corn husks, cotton and agricultural waste because proper equipment was unavailable. He did not even compete at the national level until nearly 20 years of age, making his rise to the global stage all the more remarkable.

Heartbreak for Tejaswin

For Tejaswin, the evening ended in disappointment.

“I really believed I could win a medal here. But to not do that, to not even make the first jump, stings,” he told reporters.

Explaining the injury, he said:

“It is just overuse of patellar tendinitis. That’s why it’s called the jumper’s knee.”

Despite the setback, the Asian Games decathlon silver medallist insisted he remains in the best shape of his career and hopes to recover in time for the decathlon later this week, though his participation remains doubtful.

The tears eventually came after the interview.

But before that, Tejaswin had already made the decision that defined his night—not to walk away.

He stayed on the sidelines until the final jump, offering advice, encouragement and technical observations to his teammates.

Sarvesh still had to clear every bar himself. What Tejaswin gave him wasn’t a medal.

He gave him someone to lean on when the pressure was at its highest.