Bhubaneswar : Tejas Shirse, India’s top 110m hurdler and national record holder, is making waves with a season-best 13.52 seconds gold-winning run at the Taiwan Athletics Open 2025. Born into a farming family in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Tejas’s journey from a mischievous schoolboy to a national sprint-hurdles champion is a story of passion and hustle. Struggling with injuries throughout 2025, including hamstring tears and foot stress reaction, Tejas still managed to qualify for the World Championships in Tokyo—becoming only the second Indian male hurdler to do so.
Despite limited competition domestically, he clocks personal bests and broke the men’s 60m hurdles national record twice in Luxembourg with 7.65 seconds earlier this year. Tejas supports his athletics dreams by selling second-hand sports shoes and aims to overcome financial and physical hurdles to represent India at the highest level. “I would really appreciate it if someone could give me tough competition going forward,” he says, underscoring his hunger to improve.
At just 23, with multiple national titles and top finishes in international meets, Tejas eyes the Asian Games next to build on his recent achievements and aims to raise India’s profile in sprint hurdles on the global stage.
His story is one of resilience, with every hurdle literally and metaphorically taken one step at a time. Fans and the athletics community look forward to Tejas turning his hard work and grit into medals and milestones for India.
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