Indian athletics had a moment to remember on Saturday when 24-year-old Tejas Shirse rewrote his own personal best in the men's 110m hurdles. Competing for the Reliance Foundation at the Indian Athletics Series-9, the sprinter stopped the clock at just 13.27 seconds, setting a fresh national record in the process.
Bettering A Mark He Already Held
What made the run special is that the record he broke belonged to him in the first place. Shirse had set the previous national mark in 2024 with a time of 13.41 seconds. By trimming it down to 13.27 seconds, he shaved a clear 0.14 seconds off his own best effort.
A Clear Path To The Commonwealth Games
The real significance of this race lies in the build-up to the Commonwealth Games. The Athletics Federation of India had fixed a qualification standard of 13.39 seconds for the event, and Shirse sailed past it with his record-breaking run. Just last month, he had won gold at the Federation Cup in Ranchi with a time of 13.50 seconds, and he has now moved well beyond that. With the Commonwealth Games scheduled for later this year, the result has revived India's hopes of a medal in the discipline.
Among Asia's Top Six This Season
Shirse's 13.27-second clocking did not just shine on the domestic stage; it left a mark across the continent as well. The time stands as the sixth-best performance in Asia this season. That is precisely why it is being viewed as a big leap in India's competitiveness on the international stage, narrowing the gap between India and Asia's leading hurdling nations.
Stepping Into The Continent's Elite
The timing has placed Shirse among the top sprinters on the continent for 2026. Given the level of competition in Asian hurdling, earning a place on that list is an achievement in itself. Nations such as Japan and China have consistently produced world-class athletes in this event, which makes an Indian sprinter reaching this level all the more noteworthy.
