Latest news with #Tejaswin
The Hindu
9 hours ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Tejaswin makes use of Indian open athletics for hurdles exposure
National high jump record holder and decathlete Tejaswin Shankar made a rare appearance in the men's 110m hurdles event at the Indian open athletics meet at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium here on Saturday. Competing in his first standalone 110m hurdles event in a long while, Tejaswin placed seventh. He also featured in the high jump, where he claimed silver behind Sarvesh Anil. Tejaswin continues to hold the high jump National record (2.29m). Tejaswin stated that gaining experience against seasoned 110m hurdles athletes helps in becoming a better overall decathlete. 'Hurdles, among the 10 events in decathlon, is one of those events where the more reps I do, the better I get. In practice, you can never simulate that competition environment. Here, you get regional talent competing against you. It's always beneficial for me to compete against seasoned specialists,' said Tejaswin. The JSW athlete explained that this tournament comes in as handy preparation ahead of the inter-State championships. 'There are certain competitions that you have to do to qualify for the inter-State championships. I've hit two birds with one stone – the criteria for the inter-State, which was 2.05m, and also to see where I'm at in terms of my preparation,' Tejaswin said. The 26-year-old recently won the decathlon silver at the Asian Athletics Championships, but he was not entirely satisfied with his performance. Tejaswin hoped to erase his own National record of 7,666 points, but fell short with 7,618 points. 'This year, my big event was the Asian Championships. The only thing I missed out on was breaking my own National record. Obviously, at such a big competition, ultimately all that matters is that you earn a medal, but my personal goal was still not achieved,' he added.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Tejaswin headlines field at India Open athletics championship
Tejaswin Shankar is among the leading names who will compete in the Indian Open athletics meet 2025 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium here on Saturday. Tejaswin, who earned a decathlon silver at the Asian Athletics Championships last month, will feature in the 110m hurdles and high jump events here. Olympian Sarvesh Kushare will be among Shankar's challengers in the high jump. Asian Games silver medallist Mohammed Afsal, who broke the men's 800m national record last month, will also be seen in action. Abinaya Rajarajan, 18, who was part of the Indian women's 4x100m team which won silver at the Asian Athletics Championships 2025, will look to continue her impressive run in the senior ranks. Asian Athletics Championships bronze medallist Vithya Ramraj (women's 400m hurdles), sprinter Nithya Gandhe and Jisna Mathew (women's 400m) are some of the other international athletes on the start list.
Indian Express
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Athlete-couple Siddhi Hiray and Tejaswin Shankar chart a course for India's NCAA aspirants
Rubbing shoulders with the best university track and field athletes in the United States this week are four Indians — two triple jumpers, a long jumper and a discus thrower. The prestigious National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) outdoor track and field championships are underway at Hayward Field in Oregon. Thousands of miles away, at their Hauz Khas residence, the athlete-couple of Tejaswin Shankar and Siddhi Hiray watch the results closely. Former sprinter Siddhi and decathlete Tejaswin have a role in the record turnout of Indian athletes in the finals of the championships. Two of the four, triple jumpers Selva Prabhu and Sharvari Parulekar, consulted Siddhi's firm, specialising in admissions for student-athletes. Tejaswin, a two-time NCAA high jump champion, has the 'expertise', while Siddi, he says, is the 'brains' behind starting Kings Sports Group in 2024. The couple have gained recognition as the go-to people for Indian athletes aiming for US university scholarships. Along with the six Indians they placed in the NCAA, their footprint has expanded with two Sri Lankans and a Croatian also living the American college dream. Siddhi, without a guide to help crack the admission process, missed the NCAA bus. But brighter fate was around the corner. In 2015, Siddhi and Tejaswin first met as teenage athletes at the World School Games in Wuhan, China, and in time friendship blossomed into love. When Tejaswin went on a full scholarship to Kansas State University in 2017, the NCAA piqued her interest again. A student of business psychology at the Loughborough University, Siddhi travelled to Kansas in 2021 to figure out the collegiate system in which Tejaswin thrived — by excelling in academics and high jump. 'Tejaswin used to regularly talk about the NCAA competitions. I liked the culture of how sports and studies are both managed well. I observed and met coaches and athletes. I wanted to help Indian athletes get the opportunity that Tejaswin got and I missed out,' Siddhi said. Tejaswin went through the grind. The Asian Games and Asian Championships silver medalist in decathlon says University life was challenging as well as rewarding. He credits the NCAA circuit for him winning a high jump bronze at the Commonwealth Games and for his evolution as a combined-events athlete. Finding the perfect fit — for the athlete and university — is key to success. That's where Siddhi steps in. 'There are hundreds of universities in Division 1 but most people in India know only A-B-C-D. How does an athlete know if a particular University is good for long jump? Kids see social media posts and want to go to a University but that may not be the best for them. That is where our expertise comes in. For example, mine (Kansas) was good for high jump and combined events. It's about finding the right opportunity for the right athlete. Also, it is only for those who are willing to do academics along with sports. Because you are supposed to have a life outside sport, you can't miss your exams. You need 70 to 75 per cent attendance,' Tejaswin said. Pavana Nagaraj, the 2024 Asian under-20 long jump champion, moved to San Diego University in September. Pavana travelled directly from the World Under-20 Champions in Lima to the USA. Wanting to step out of her comfort zone, she got talking with Tejaswin, before Siddhi hand-held her during the application process. Pavana, 19, is pursuing an undergraduate course in communication. She's from a sporting family — her mother Sahana Kumari, the women's national record holder in the high jump, while father BG Nagaraj, a former sprinter. 'I moved to a US university as I was looking for more exposure. A lot of collegiate athletes eventually turn professional, so training and competing with them gives you a lot of confidence. The training methods, coaching, facilities make a lot of difference. It is very competitive and that makes you tougher,' Pavana said. Pradeep Senthilkumar, a specialist in the 400m and 800m, too travelled to the other end of the world. He and his coach in India didn't see eye-to-eye. He reached out to Siddhi on Instagram. 'I did some research and found that performance-wise, he would get a scholarship. After that, I connected with him,' Siddhi said. Pradeep was all in, he even quit his railway job to make the move to the University of Nebraska. Pavana and Pradeep had medals to show for but another class of athletes are eager to enter the elite collegiate system — those who finish outside the podium at national meets or promising juniors experiencing stagnation. 'Usually, those who finish 1-2-3 don't want to change anything because they are doing well. It is those who finish 4-5-6-7, the kids who want to change something because they are talented, are putting in the effort but are not doing as well as they expected,' Tejaswin said. University intake is twice a year, in August during fall and in January during spring, but Siddhi works around the year, scouting for talented athletes, talking to parents of athletes who are full of questions, checking athlete eligibility for scholarship, creating athlete profiles, helping in filling application forms, putting athletes in touch with the right university coach and also visa application. Burning midnight oil comes with the job because of the time-zone difference. However, it's a dead end for athletes who don't know English and don't want to learn it. The Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) is required only for the top universities, while TOEFL or Duolingo suffice for others. 'The recruitment process is year-long. There will be lots of questions from our side and their side. We have to wait for the coaches to accept, then see if the athlete likes the particular university that has an offer. After that applications, tests, then a US visa which takes a lot of time now,' Siddhi said. In her heyday, she lost the NCAA opportunity. Today the one-time sprinter is ensuring the next generation of Indian athletes don't.
Indian Express
11-06-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Pickle juice: Carlos Alcaraz's quick fix to stave off cramps in French Open final
French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz took sips of pickle juice during the five-hour, 29-minute marathon men's final against Jannik Sinner on Sunday, the longest-ever at Roland Garros. Alcaraz is not the first nor will be the last athlete to take small portions of pickle juice, known to help stave off the onset of cramps. There are many examples, recent and from the aughts. Over two decades ago, when temperatures touched 43 degree Celcius in Texas, the American football team Philadelphia Eagles drank pickle juice to stay hydrated during a game against the Dallas Cowboys. The Indian women's hockey team which finished fourth at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics took shots of pickle juice at the onset of cramps. At last year's UEFA Euros, England full-back Kieran Trippier was seen sipping from a sachet of pickle juice after cramping during the game against Serbia. Decathlete Tejaswin Shankar, the national record holder, Asian Games and Asian Championship silver medalist, swears by pickle juice as a quick-fix solution for cramps. What is pickle juice? Pickle juice is a briny liquid made up of water, salt and vinegar used for pickling. Gherkins, baby cucumbers, are a popular choice for pickling. The acetic acid in vinegar, a byproduct of fermentation, helps provide immediate relief from cramps, experts say. Brine also contains sodium and potassium, electrolytes the body loses through sweating. With it gaining popularity, commercial pickle juice is available in small PET bottles and sachets which may also contain dill oil or starch extracts. What in pickle juice gives relief from cramps? Experts believe that it's the acetic acid which is most effective in stopping cramps. 'Nerve receptors in the mouth detect acetic acid in the pickle brine and provoke a neurological reflex in which the brain sends messages to the muscles telling them to relax,' Anita Bean, a sports nutritionist told The Times, London. Tejaswin, India's high jump and decathlon national record holder, reckons, going by his practical knowledge, that acetic acid is like a silver bullet for cramps. 'It is not just sodium or potassium. We know because it's in electrolyte drinks and when you have it the cramps don't stop immediately. Maybe the brine in the pickle juice, or the vinegar or the acetic acid — one of those triggers a neuro reflex that stops the cramping,' Tejaswin told The Indian Express. Tejaswin uses a band-aid analogy. 'This is like a quick fix. I can't address hydration in the middle of a competition because if I do oral hydration it is going to take time to show results. When you are cramping you need to have something quick, like a pickle juice which puts a band-aid or a pause on the cramping and then you can continue.' What do top athletes experience? Tejaswin usually drinks pickle juice just before or during the high jump, the fourth event in decathlon on the first day. He reasons it is because of two reasons — he is starting to get tired because he has completed three events and also because he is tense ahead of his strongest event. 'I usually cramp right before or during the high jump. If I am cramping too much, I consume two shots but when I run the 400 metres (the event that follows the high jump), I feel really weird in my stomach, and after I finish I throw up for at least 10 minutes. To avoid that I don't consume it, but just gargle it so it just hits the back of my throat and the cramping stops,' Tejaswin said. Other than lack of hydration and loss of electrolytes, Tejaswin says a stressed mind can result in tense muscles that can cause a cramp. 'It comes down to the fact that it is my most important event, and there is some amount of stress that I carry going into the high jump thinking, 'I have to maximise my score here'. When you are not relaxed, your body tends to stiffen up, and those tight spots contribute to make a cramp worse. I am also fatigued by the time I reach the high jump because I have already done three events. All these add up,' Tejaswin said. He also carries a 'dabba' of mustard sauce in his bag as an option because he feels it has a similar effect on cramps. Did the women's hockey team benefit? Yes, ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the team's strength and conditioning coach Wayne Lombard went shopping for pickles with gherkin and vinegar. He carried one hundred servings of pickle juice. 'When it was back-to-back games, the girls would drink that after breakfast, or depending on when the game was. And then, at the onset of cramps they would have additional shots if required,' he had told this paper. The bronze-medal match, which India lost narrowly to Britain, was played when the temperature touched nearly 40 degree Celsius. 'There are two ways to consume it. You either have it as a shot or you can gargle so your membranes get it, and then you spit it out,' Lombard said.
Indian Express
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Asian Athletics Championships: Jolt in javelin denies Tejaswin Shankar decathlon gold
With two events left in the decathlon, Tejaswin Shankar was just three points behind leader Xiang Fei of China. What remained were the javelin and 1,500m, Tejaswin's strong suits as he had registered personal bests in these events at the Federation Cup in Kochi last month. However, any number of setbacks can occur during the course of the 10-event two-day decathlon. Tejaswin's was in the javelin. 'My first throw was really good. I was on par for a big personal best. It settled around 57-58 metres but I fouled,' Tejaswin reflected. In the final standings, Tejaswin totalled 7,618 points for a silver medal at the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea, an upgrade from the bronze he won two years ago. Xiang Fei won gold (7,634 pts) and Japan's Keisuke Okuda was third (7,602). The competition went down to the wire. Post the javelin event, Tejaswin had dropped from second spot to third. In the 1,500m , the last event of the decathlon, Tejaswin said he went all out. He had to finish 10 seconds faster than Xiang Fei to win gold but could manage only a gap of seven. 'In the end, I had an opportunity to play safe and go behind the bronze medalist and make sure I secure that medal, or try and get that 10-second lead and see if I can challenge for the gold. And I made the decision that I want to challenge for the gold. I missed by three seconds, that was the difference between gold and silver. Sixteen points… three seconds,' the 26-year-old said. This wasn't Tejaswin's best outing, that was at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou. He tallied 7,666 points to break the national record. Like he said, the focus was on winning a medal. 'In championship meets, it is more about trying to win a medal for the country, and less about what could have been done, should have been done. I am happy that I was able to secure something.' There were takeaways for him — best-ever performances in the 110m hurdles, on Wednesday, and the shot put, on Tuesday. A personal best in shot put helped him recover from a poor start. 'The shot put was overdue. The first time I threw a shot put was in 2022 and that was my personal best. Since then, I have never got a personal best. I am happy with it. The first two events (100m and long jump) on day one, I was really struggling and my first two throws were also very bad in the shot put. Then somehow, I was able to summon up all the courage I had in the third throw, I just went for it. I got a personal best and that changed the momentum,' Tejaswin said. He also drew inspiration from Japan's Yuma Maruyama, a favourite to win gold but 'did not finish' after hurting his neck while warming up for the hurdles. Despite the injury, Maruyama ran the hurdles and also featured in the discus, pole vault and javelin. However, the Japanese pulled out of the 1,500m. 'He would have definitely won a gold medal if not for that fall, seriously injuring his neck. Despite that, he continued through the events. He decided not to run the 1,500. Before that, he did every event and was trying to push through. That gave me motivation that if he can do it with that injury, I can at least challenge for the gold medal. All I have to do is run fast.' Like the shot put result was a shot in the arm for Tejaswin, so was his timing in the hurdles. 'The first thing I need to do is not fall and compete so at least I can secure a medal. The personal best was the cherry on the cake.' After the first day, Tejaswin was leading the field with 4,205 points, 40 ahead of Maruyama. He said it was due to his strong events, including the high jump — he is the national record holder — being on the first day. Tejaswin is used to the narrative on social media that he is set to get gold at the end of the first five events before it gets harder for him the next day. 'It is a rollercoaster of emotions. Especially in my case, most of my strong events line up on Day One, so most competitions I am leading after day one. But I pull myself back and say I still have the pole vault and javelin remaining the next day. Those are some events that are a work in progress.'
