From Wooden Hurdles to Global Stage: Tejas Shirse's Journey
New Delhi, July 21 – The story of Tejas Shirse reads like a script of perseverance. At 23, the hurdler holds the Indian record in the 110‑metre event and is now eyeing medals at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Asian Games later this year.
Last season, a hard‑hit collision left Shirse with multiple ankle injuries that threatened to end his career. The injury fractured the joint in three places, pushing him into a period of deep disappointment. A coordinated recovery program led by Reliance Foundation’s Sports Science team, featuring coach James Hillier, physiotherapist Nilesh Makwana and strength‑conditioning coach Kshitij Bhoi, helped him regain confidence and strength. "Their expertise turned a potential career‑ender into a comeback," Shirse said.
He resumed training in mid‑April, racing against time to qualify before the June deadline. "I called the effort ‘Mission Miracle’ because qualifying seemed impossible, yet we made it happen," Shirse explained.
Performance metrics show his progress: 13.67 seconds and 13.50 seconds at the Federation Cup in Ranchi, followed by a decisive 13.27‑second run in Ludhiana—clearly under the 13.39‑second qualifying threshold.
Shirse’s early days were spent constructing wooden hurdles in Sambhaji Nagar, a town with scant sports facilities. He relied on YouTube tutorials to master technique. "Those wooden barriers were a reflection of life – obstacles you must clear to move forward," he reflected.
He believes it’s time for a cultural shift in Indian athletics. While sprinting and javelin have dominated headlines, the technical excitement of the 110‑metre hurdles deserves equal attention. He cites the surge in javelin’s popularity after Neeraj Chopra’s Olympic gold as a blueprint for how a single athlete can alter public perception.
The Commonwealth field includes world‑class competitors like Demario Prince from Jamaica, while Asian rivals from Japan and China add further depth. Shirse’s preparation hinges on a focused mindset: "I shut out external noise, concentrate solely on my own race, and treat pressure as a positive force."
Training alongside elite sprinters Jyoti Yadav, Gurinderveer Singh and Animesh Kujur creates a high‑performance environment that pushes his limits daily. "My goal is simple – run faster, execute flawlessly, and bring home a medal for India," he affirmed.