Tejaswin Shankar is bracing up for a 12 months of transition — each off and on the sphere.
This summer time he’ll shift his base again to India from the United States, the place he spent six lengthy years finishing his research from Kansas State University. He is recently running as an auditor at Deloitte there.
The 24-year-old Delhi athlete had moved to america as a promising teenage prime jumper. He will go back as an elite world athlete – a Commonwealth Games medalist, two-time NCAA champion, a countrywide document holder in prime soar (2.29m), and now excelling in a grueling self-discipline just like the decathlon. In reality, Shankar fell in need of the nationwide document within the decathlon by means of simply 10 issues – he scored 7648 issues — not too long ago at a meet in Arizona. It is fairly a a hit transition.
But it’s the alternate in his persona past the limits of game that made him really feel he would to find adapting in India to be a problem. The reality is he isn’t a mean Indian elite sportsperson obsessive about successful a medal for the rustic within the Olympics, World Championships, and Asian Games. That isn’t to mention that Shankar does now not nurse the dream of the Olympics – 2024 Paris Games is on his thoughts. It is simply that he’s tuned another way. What Shankar is is on a relentless lookout for are alternatives — a task, or checking out a brand new factor. It makes him really feel extra productive and enhances his carrying adventure.
“I plan to come back to India this summer so that will be a change of base, my VISA expires here and I don’t want to overstay my welcome,” laughs Shankar. “Bas guy bhar gaya hai; I need to come again house. Hopefully I will be able to do one thing the place I’m juggling more than one issues. That is necessary for my psychological well being. I think I’m extra productive that means.
On the sphere, he has his plans charted out for the season. He needs to qualify for the Asian Championships and Asian Games within the decathlon and would goal the prime soar for the sector championships. At house, he’ll compete on the Federation Cup in Bhubaneshwar from June 12-15 and the National Inter-State Championships in Ranchi from July 26-30 within the decathlon.
“I need to make the transition to decathlon whilst closing aggressive within the prime soar. So, I can keep on with my puppy match, particularly when I’m competing on the global stage. I’ve competed in a single or two rating meets in prime jumps so my function is to get every other 3 meets and toughen my global scores. I feel I’ve higher possibilities of making it to the sector championships this 12 months or the Paris Olympics within the prime soar.
“At the Asian stage, I think I in point of fact have a just right shot in decathlon – my trainer additionally feels the similar. Eventually, I do see myself, possibly shifting into decathlon and being extra aggressive.”
Shankar will base himself on the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS) in Bellary. “It has a just right facility. They have supported me via this adventure in america. My plan is to get this system from my trainer (Cliff Rovelto) and I may take anyone’s steering. These are issues I want to iron out.
And what about having a full-time activity again in India, “In america you have got the work-life flexibility. In India, are you able to consider running 9 to five and going to coaching? Maybe it is the climate. I’ve spent 5-6 years in america and it is going to be a unique surroundings. But I feel it is best for me if I do more than one issues — like a decathlon in actual lifestyles.”