New Delhi, August 4: In what could be termed as a jolt to India’s aspirations to doing well in the hurdles at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, premier 110m hurdler Tejas Shirse has been ruled out of the upcoming mult-sport competition.
The 24-year-old athlete from Maharashtra has revealed that he competed at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with two stress fractures in his left foot, bringing a heartbreaking end to what had promised to be the biggest season of his career.
The Reliance athlete made history in Glasgow by becoming the first Indian to qualify for the men’s 110m hurdles final at the Commonwealth Games. However, running with his left foot heavily strapped, Shirse finished eighth in the final with a time of 15.39 seconds, visibly struggling in pain after clocking 13.76 seconds in the heats.
Days after the Games concluded, Shirse shared the devastating news through an emotional Instagram post, confirming that scans had revealed two stress fractures that will also force him to miss the Asian Games in Japan, beginning on September 19.
‘I Thought I’d Be Holding a Medal’
In an emotional message, Shirse admitted that Glasgow was meant to be the tournament where he believed he could finally win a major international medal.
“This isn’t the post I dreamed of writing. I thought I’d be holding a medal. This was the time I was prepared to win. Instead, I’m holding MRI reports.
“Two stress fractures in my left foot. A dream paused. A season over.”
The injury means the national record holder will miss yet another major championship after qualifying for the continental showpiece.
“The cruelest part isn’t one race. It’s knowing I qualified for the Asian Games and now I won’t get to stand on that start line again.
“It’s been nine major competitions in total, if I am not wrong, that I missed out on.”
Ignoring the Warning Signs
Shirse revealed that he had the option of pulling out of the Commonwealth Games final but ultimately decided to compete despite sensing something was wrong during the warm-up.
“I didn’t feel it going into the competition. Something changed during warm-up,” he wrote.
“Every athlete knows that moment when your body tells you something is wrong, but your heart refuses to listen.
“So I ran. Not because I thought I would win, but because sometimes you’ve worked too long to walk away before the gun goes off.”
His decision reflected the determination that has defined his career, even if it ultimately came at a significant cost.
Responding to Critics
Following the final, some social media users questioned whether his limp was exaggerated after finishing last.
Shirse addressed those comments directly.
“I’ve read the comments – ‘I limped because I was in last position.’ No! I limped because my foot was broken.”
The candid response highlighted the physical pain he endured simply to line up in the final after making history for Indian athletics.
‘I Don’t Know What Comes Next’
The injury has left the hurdler facing uncertainty after what had been an encouraging season.
“Today, I don’t have a comeback story. I have pain.
“Questions. Regret over a few choices I know I could’ve made differently. And a future I suddenly can’t see as clearly as I did a week ago.”
Despite the disappointment, Shirse insisted he was not looking for sympathy.
“For the first time in a long time… I genuinely don’t know what comes next.
“Right now, I’m not asking for sympathy.”
Finding Strength Through Adversity
Shirse also explained why he continues to openly document both the highs and lows of his sporting journey, despite suggestions that doing so invites bad luck.
“People ask why I keep sharing my journey. Some say every time I do, it brings nazar. Maybe.
“But I started sharing my story for a different reason.
“If my journey can help even one person believe that setbacks are not the end, then I’ll continue to be honest about both the highs and the lows.”
A Season That Promised So Much
Indian athletics witnessed a historic moment earlier this year in Ludhiana, where Shirse produced the race of his life at the Indian Athletics Series 9. The national record holder blazed to 13.27 seconds in the men’s 110m hurdles, shattering his own national record and securing qualification for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The performance marked India’s fastest-ever 110m hurdles race and confirmed Shirse as one of the country’s brightest medal hopes heading into the international season.
The achievement was made even more remarkable because it came after a difficult comeback from injury. A serious injury, earlier in the year, sidelined him for nearly three months at a time when he was enjoying the best form of his career.
Speaking to myKhel after his return, Shirse had admitted just how mentally draining that period had been.
“The injury period was very difficult. It was a very low point for me. Coming back was emotional. There were moments when I wanted to stop my season, but my team kept supporting me and guiding me through the process.”
His perseverance paid off once again at the Inter-State Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar, where the Sambhaji Nagar-born hurdler sealed qualification for the 2026 Asian Games, appearing to have put his injury troubles behind him.
Instead, fate dealt him another cruel blow in Glasgow. For now, he begins another difficult recovery, hoping that the chapter ending with MRI reports eventually leads to another historic finish line.
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