India's 110m hurdles record-breaker Tejas Shirse says he competed in the Commonwealth Games final with two stress fractures in his left foot, a decision that has now cost him a shot at the Asian Games in Japan.
India's 110m hurdles star Tejas Shirse on Tuesday (August 4, 2026) revealed that he will not be able to compete in the upcoming Asian Games in Japan as he participated in the recently-concluded Commonwealth Games with "two stress fractures" on his left foot.
Shirse became the first Indian to reach the 110m hurdles final at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, clocking 13.76 seconds to book his place. But running the final with a heavily taped foot, he finished last in the eight-man field, timing 15.39 seconds while visibly grimacing in pain.
"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," Shirse wrote in an emotional Instagram post. "Two stress fractures in my left foot. A dream paused. A season over," he added.
The 24-year-old confirmed that his Asian Games campaign, set to begin on September 19 in Japan, is now over despite having already qualified. "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!" he wrote, adding that he has missed out on "9 major competitions in total" because of the injury.
"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. I'll be back when I know who I am after this chapter," he said.
Shirse had the personal choice of skipping the CWG final but opted to run despite warning signs from his body. "I didn't feel it (injury) going into the competition. Something changed during warm-up. Every athlete knows that moment when your body tells you something is wrong, but your heart refuses to listen," he said. "So I ran. Not because I thought I would win because sometimes you've worked too long to walk away before the gun goes off."
He also addressed comments suggesting he had exaggerated the injury. "I've read the comments — I limped because I was in last position" No! I limped because my foot was broken," he said.
Looking ahead, Shirse struck a reflective tone. "For the first time in a long time…I genuinely don't know what comes next. But if this sport has taught me anything, it's that your strongest identity can't be built on your fastest race. Right now, I'm not asking for sympathy," he added.
He also spoke about why he continues to share his journey publicly despite superstitions around it. "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," he said.
Reporting sourced from The Hindu Sport. Photo courtesy The Hindu Sport.