India's Tejaswin Shankar displayed remarkable sportsmanship at the Commonwealth Games after being forced to withdraw from the men's high jump due to a recurring knee injury. Despite his own disappointment, the national record holder remained at the venue to support fellow Indian athlete Sarvesh Kushare, offering technical guidance that helped Kushare secure the silver medal. The gesture earned praise as India celebrated another podium finish in athletics.

Tejaswin, who won India's first-ever Commonwealth Games high jump medal with bronze at Birmingham 2022, suffered a sharp pain in his knee during the warm-up before the competition. Although he managed to clear the opening height on his first attempt, the discomfort prevented him from continuing. The 27-year-old later revealed that he has long dealt with patellar tendonitis, commonly known as "jumper's knee", a condition that frequently affects high jumpers.

Instead of leaving the competition after his withdrawal, Tejaswin stayed back to assist Sarvesh Kushare during the event. Kushare revealed that his rhythm was affected while attempting 2.25 metres, causing his stride to shorten. Acting as a mentor from the sidelines, Tejaswin advised him to adjust his run-up by moving forward, a change that helped Kushare regain confidence and eventually claim the silver medal.

Also Read: Sarvesh Kushare Creates History With Commonwealth Games 2026 Men's High Jump Silver

Speaking after the event, an emotional Tejaswin admitted the injury came at the worst possible time, saying he had arrived in Glasgow believing he was capable of winning another Commonwealth Games medal. He described the pain as a flare-up of his long-standing tendon problem, explaining that the condition resulted from overuse of the patellar tendon rather than any new injury. The setback, he said, was particularly painful because he felt he was in excellent form before the competition.

Despite the disappointment, Tejaswin remains optimistic about returning for the decathlon, which is scheduled to begin later this week. He said he would use the available recovery time to manage the injury and still intends to compete. While acknowledging that the knee is heavily used in the high jump and long jump, he expressed confidence that he could perform well in the remaining events if the pain subsides.

Tejaswin Shankar is India's national record holder in the decathlon and has previously won a silver medal at the Asian Games along with two medals at the Asian Championships. He also became the first Indian athlete to cross the 8,000-point mark in the demanding 10-event discipline. His determination to support a teammate despite his own setback highlighted the spirit of teamwork, while Sarvesh Kushare's silver medal added another memorable chapter to India's athletics campaign at the Commonwealth Games.

Also Read: Sarvesh Kushare Impresses With Third-Place Finish At Monaco Diamond League Debut Event