Indian athletics received a massive early-season boost as Tejaswin Shankar delivered a statement performance at the DeLoss Dodds Invitational, soaring to 2.26 metres to win the men’s high jump and break the facility record at the prestigious World Athletics Indoor Tour Bronze meet in the United States.
It was not just a victory it was a declaration that India’s premier multi-event star is back at the elite end of global high jumping. For Tejaswin, the significance of 2.26m runs deep. The last time he cleared this height was in February 2023, and in the two years since, he has focused heavily on his transition into the heptathlon, juggling speed, strength, and technical work across seven demanding disciplines. Returning to such a mark at the very start of the 2026 season suggests something even more powerful: he is now stronger, faster, and more technically stable than ever.
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What made Tejaswin’s win truly special was not just the height, but the way he achieved it.
He opened his competition at 2.05m, then cleared 2.10m, 2.14m, 2.18m, 2.22m, and finally 2.26m all on his first attempt. In high jump, such a flawless progression is rare. It reflects rhythm, confidence, and biomechanical efficiency the three ingredients that separate good jumpers from world-class ones.
By the time the bar was raised to 2.26m, the field had already been shaken. Tejaswin attacked the height aggressively, producing a clean, technically polished clearance that immediately secured the gold medal and the facility record at the meet.
Behind him stood a quality international field, including Shelby McEwen of the United States, the Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallist and World Indoor silver medallist, who finished second with a best of 2.22m. That gap — four full centimetres — is enormous at this level, underlining just how dominant Tejaswin was on the day.
A return to his true level
For Indian fans, the number 2.26m has always been associated with Tejaswin’s ceiling as a high jumper. He has cleared higher in his career, including his national record, but the ability to consistently get into the mid-2.20s is what places an athlete among the world’s top 20.
This performance was his season-best and his best jump in nearly three years, confirming that the off-season work has paid off. Crucially, it also came in his first high jump competition of the season, and only his second meet overall in 2026, which means he is peaking far earlier than many elite jumpers.
That matters because the calendar ahead is packed.
The heptathlon factor
While this victory came in the high jump, Tejaswin is not preparing for a pure high-jump season. He is part of India’s 17-member squad for the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships 2026, where he will contest the heptathlon one of the most punishing multi-event competitions in athletics.
In the heptathlon, high jump is one of the highest-scoring disciplines. Every extra centimetre is worth precious points. A 2.26m jump places Tejaswin in the company of the very best multi-event athletes in the world. To put it in context, a 2.26m clearance translates to roughly 840 points in heptathlon scoring a massive weapon when combined with his speed in the 60m hurdles and his explosive long jump. This performance therefore has a double meaning: it shows that he is not only fit, but also technically sharp a rare combination for an athlete juggling multiple disciplines.
Defeating an athlete of Shelby McEwen’s calibre is not just symbolic. McEwen is one of the most consistent high jumpers on the international circuit, a regular finalist at Diamond League meets and a proven championship performer. To outjump him by four centimetres, on neutral ground, is a major credibility boost.
Tejaswin even attempted a new national record after clearing 2.26m, showing that he was not content with merely winning he was hunting history. Though the record attempt didn’t fall this time, the intent speaks volumes about his mindset.
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India’s men’s high jump has long searched for sustained global relevance. Tejaswin has been the standard-bearer, not just because of his national records but because of his versatility. He is one of the few athletes in the world who can compete seriously in both high jump and the heptathlon.
A 2.26m jump in January sends a powerful message: Tejaswin is entering 2026 in peak condition. With the Asian Indoor Championships around the corner and the outdoor season including the Asian Championships and Olympic qualification window ahead, this performance could not have come at a better time. More than anything, it shows that Indian athletics is no longer chasing the world it is beginning to challenge it.
And on a cold American runway, under the lights at the DeLoss Dodds Invitational, Tejaswin Shankar reminded everyone just how high India’s ambitions can fly.
