"Will Pick Up The Pieces": High-Jumper Tejaswin Shankar After CWG Clearance

He endured "a roller-coaster of emotions" after being ignored for the Commonwealth Games but Indian high jumper Tejaswin Shankar says he will "pick up the pieces" and prepare in the best possible way after getting a last-minute entry into the Birmingham event. National record holder Shankar was on Friday cleared to compete at the July 28 to August 8 Games after the organisers accepted his entry at the request of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), ending a month-long drama surrounding his participation.

The organisers had initially rejected Shankar's late entry but the IOA has now got confirmation from the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and Birmingham CWG organisers about acceptance of his entry after a Delegate Registration Meeting (DRM). The IOA has informed the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) about the development.

"I am at a loss of words, I can't say now whether I am happy or sad. It has been a roller-coaster of emotions. I can't believe even now that I have been cleared for the CWG," Shankar told PTI.

"I can't say I am surprised or shocked. It has been 'haan aur naa' (yes and no), it has been like that for five to six times, so it is hard to believe." The 23-year-old won a case after he challenged his exclusion from the Indian athletics team for the CWG at the Delhi High Court. The AFI later told the court that Shankar's name has been included in the team in place of Arokia Rajiv, who was in the initial 37-member team.

The IOA had made a request to the Birmingham organisers for the late inclusion of Shankar but it was rejected on July 7. However, the organisers made a U-turn on Friday and allowed the Delhi high jumper to participate in the quadrennial event.

Shankar, who has returned home from the USA