Tejas Shirse Breaks National Record Again with Stunning 13.27s, Enters Asia’s Elite in 110m Hurdles

Indian hurdler Tejas Ashok Shirse delivered the performance of his career at the Indian Athletics Series-9 in Ludhiana, clocking a sensational 13.27 seconds in the men’s 110m hurdles to shatter his own national record and cement his place among Asia’s best.

The remarkable run not only improved his previous Indian record of 13.41 seconds, set in 2024, by an impressive 0.14 seconds but also comfortably breached the Athletics Federation of India’s qualification standard for the 2026 Commonwealth Games. More significantly, the timing places Shirse sixth on the list of the fastest Asian performers in 2026 and elevates him to 14th on the all-time Asian rankings.

For Indian athletics, it marks another watershed moment in an event where the country has historically struggled to compete with the continent’s traditional powerhouses.

Competing in ideal conditions with a legal wind reading of +1.6 m/s, Shirse produced a technically flawless race from start to finish. His explosive start, smooth hurdle clearance and strong finish combined to produce a time that surpassed expectations and rewrote the Indian record books. The 13.27-second effort is a massive personal best and one of the finest sprint hurdle performances ever produced by an Indian athlete. 

It also represents a significant leap forward in international competitiveness, reducing the gap between India and Asia’s leading hurdle nations.

Shirse’s timing now ranks him among the continent’s elite performers in 2026.

The fastest men’s 110m hurdles times in Asia this season are Rachid Muratake (Japan) – 13.05s, Shunsuke Izumiya (Japan) – 13.13s, Junxi Liu (China) – 13.22s, Yuanjiang Chen (China) – 13.22s, Tatsuki Abe (Japan) – 13.26s & now Tejas Shirse (India) – 13.27s

Breaking into this list is a significant achievement considering the depth of competition in Asian hurdling, particularly from Japan and China, nations that have consistently produced world-class athletes in the event.

One immediate reward for Shirse’s performance is qualification for the 2026 Commonwealth Games. The Athletics Federation of India had set a qualification standard of 13.39 seconds, and Shirse surpassed it comfortably with his record-breaking effort. With the Commonwealth Games scheduled later this year, the result provides India with a genuine medal hopeful in an event that has rarely featured an Indian athlete among the favourites.

His current form suggests he could arrive at the Games in peak condition, carrying both confidence and momentum.

Shirse has now broken the national record for the second time in his career, demonstrating remarkable consistency and continuous improvement. More importantly, his latest performance establishes India as only the third Asian nation to produce a sub-13.30-second athlete in the men’s 110m hurdles, highlighting the significance of the achievement beyond national boundaries.

For years, Indian sprint hurdling lagged behind international standards. Shirse’s breakthrough changes that narrative and provides fresh optimism for the discipline. His run also showcases the increasing quality of domestic athletics competitions such as the Indian Athletics Series, which continue to provide athletes with opportunities to produce world-class performances on home soil.

The importance of the 13.27-second run extends well beyond rankings. Sprint hurdles demand an exceptional combination of speed, rhythm, agility and technical precision, making improvements at elite level extremely difficult. Shaving 0.14 seconds off an already established national record represents a substantial leap in performance rather than an incremental gain.

Such progress reflects years of dedicated training and careful development. For young Indian athletes specialising in hurdles, Shirse’s success serves as proof that global standards are increasingly within reach.

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The timing of this breakthrough could hardly be better. With major international competitions on the horizon, including the Commonwealth Games and Asian Championships, Shirse enters the season in the best form of his career. His current ranking among Asia’s fastest hurdlers means he will travel to future competitions not merely as a participant but as a genuine contender capable of challenging some of the continent’s biggest names.

Continued consistency and further technical refinement could even see him push closer to the 13.20-second barrier in the coming years.

Indian athletics has enjoyed several memorable moments over the past decade, particularly in field events and distance running. Tejas Shirse’s latest achievement adds sprint hurdling to that growing list of disciplines making international progress. By clocking 13.27 seconds, breaking the national record, securing Commonwealth Games qualification and rising to sixth in Asia for 2026, Shirse has delivered one of the standout performances by an Indian athlete this season.

As preparations begin for the next major championships, all eyes will be on the national record holder to see whether he can build on this momentum and translate his historic run into medals on the continental and global stage.