National Record Holder Tejas Shirse Ruled Out of Asian Games After Revealing Two Stress Fractures
Indian hurdler Tejas Shirse will miss the rest of the 2026 season, including the Asian Games, after revealing he competed at the Commonwealth Games with two stress fractures.
India's fastest-ever 110m hurdler Tejas Shirse has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2026 season, including the Asian Games, after revealing that he competed at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with two stress fractures in his left foot.
The 24-year-old made the emotional announcement through a social media post on Tuesday, bringing an abrupt end to what had promised to be the finest season of his career. Just weeks after breaking the national record and qualifying for his maiden Asian Games, Shirse now faces months of recovery instead of competing for continental honours.
The revelation also explained the dramatic scenes witnessed during the Commonwealth Games final, where the Indian hurdler struggled to complete the race before limping across the finish line.
Shirse entered the Commonwealth Games carrying significant momentum. The national record holder successfully progressed through his heat in Glasgow, finishing third with a timing of 13.76 seconds to book his place in the final. With confidence high following a breakthrough season, many expected the young hurdler to challenge for a strong finish in the medal race.
Instead, the final became one of the most painful moments of his career. Shirse finished last with a time of 15.39 seconds, visibly struggling after the final hurdles and limping towards the finish line. At the time, few realised the extent of the injury he was carrying.
Days later, the reason became painfully clear.
"I Thought I'd Be Holding a Medal"
In an emotional social media post, Shirse revealed MRI scans had confirmed two stress fractures in his left foot, forcing him to end his season immediately. "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," he wrote.
The statement reflected the immense disappointment of an athlete whose season had been building towards the Asian Games. For Shirse, the injury represents more than missing a single competition; it ends the opportunity to compete at the biggest continental event of his career.
Perhaps the most heartbreaking aspect of the injury is its timing. Only two weeks before the Commonwealth Games, Shirse had rewritten the Indian record books by clocking 13.27 seconds in the men's 110m hurdles. That outstanding performance, achieved during the selection trials at the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar, earned him qualification for the Asian Games for the first time in his career.
The Asian Games, scheduled to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, represented the next major milestone in his development.
Now, that opportunity has slipped away.
"The cruellest part isn't one race," he admitted. "It's knowing I qualified for the Asian Games and now I won't get to stand on that start line again."
Shirse also offered insight into the difficult decision to compete in the Commonwealth Games final despite sensing something was wrong. According to the hurdler, he entered the competition without any major concerns. However, during the warm-up before the final, his body began sending warning signals.
"I didn't feel it going into the competition. Something changed during warm-up." Like many elite athletes, he faced the difficult choice between withdrawing from one of the biggest races of his career or trusting that he could push through the pain.
His decision reflected the mentality shared by many top competitors. "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." Those words capture the emotional conflict athletes often experience at the highest level, where years of preparation can make stepping away feel impossible despite the risk of worsening an injury.
Following the Commonwealth Games final, some social media users questioned whether Shirse exaggerated his discomfort after finishing last. The athlete directly addressed those comments in his statement. "I've read the comments: 'I limped because I was in the last position. 'No! I limped because my foot was broken."
His response highlighted the realities elite athletes often face, where performances are frequently judged without knowledge of the physical challenges competitors may be enduring.
Despite the setback, there is every reason for optimism about Shirse's long-term future. At just 24 years of age, he has already established himself as India's fastest-ever men's 110m hurdler and demonstrated his ability to compete at the highest international level. His national record of 13.27 seconds reflects the significant progress Indian sprint hurdling has made in recent years and positions him among Asia's leading athletes in the event.
Although the remainder of the 2026 season is now lost, recovery will become the immediate priority. The focus will shift towards rehabilitation, allowing the stress fractures to heal completely before returning to competition.
For Tejas Shirse, the disappointment of missing the Asian Games will undoubtedly take time to overcome. However, the determination that carried him to a national record and a Commonwealth Games final also provides reason to believe he will return stronger. His emotional message served as a reminder that behind every result lies an athlete willing to push beyond physical limits in pursuit of excellence.
While one dream has been postponed, India's national record holder has already shown the resilience needed to begin chasing the next one.
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