'I'm devastated': Indian record holder Tejas Nandakumar barred from CWG 2026
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JYOTIRMOY HALDER
India's national record holder Tejas Nandakumar has been ruled out of the 2026 Commonwealth Games despite qualifying, after his para sport classification failed to meet eligibility requirements. Speaking exclusively to TimesofIndia.com, the 20-year-old reveals how administrative delays, despite months of international travel and personal expense, shattered his Glasgow dream, while urging systemic reforms to prevent similar heartbreak for future para athletes.
The Tragedy of Administrative Failure: Tejas Nandakumar and CWG 2026
The exclusion of Tejas Nandakumar from the 2026 Commonwealth Games (CWG) in Glasgow serves as a stark reminder of the precarious intersection between athletic excellence and bureaucratic rigidity. Despite being a national record holder and successfully qualifying for the event, the 20-year-old athlete has been barred from competing. The core of the issue lies in a failed para sport classification—a technical requirement that determines an athlete's eligibility based on the impact of their impairment on sporting performance. For an athlete of Nandakumar's caliber, this is not merely a technicality but a devastating blow to a career built on years of discipline and sacrifice.
The Critical Role of Para-Sport Classification
To understand the gravity of this situation, one must recognize that classification is the cornerstone of equity in para-sports. It ensures that competition is fair by grouping athletes with similar levels of functional ability. However, the process is often arduous, requiring specific international evaluations that are not always readily available or streamlined. In Nandakumar's case, the failure to meet these eligibility requirements—despite his qualification—highlights a systemic gap where athletic performance is decoupled from administrative validation. This discrepancy creates a scenario where an athlete can be the best in their country, yet remain invisible to the international governing bodies due to classification hurdles.
The Burden of Personal Expense and Administrative Delay
Perhaps the most poignant aspect of this narrative is the personal toll exerted on the athlete. Nandakumar revealed that he spent months traveling internationally and incurring significant personal expenses to secure the necessary classifications. The fact that a national record holder had to shoulder these financial burdens, only to be met with "administrative delays" that ultimately cost him his spot in Glasgow, points to a failure in the support ecosystem. When the state or sporting federations fail to provide a seamless pathway for classification, the burden shifts to the athlete, turning a quest for sporting glory into a stressful logistical battle.
Psychological Impact and the 'Devastated' Athlete
At just 20 years old, Nandakumar is at a pivotal stage of his athletic development. The emotional weight of being "devastated" after achieving the primary goal of qualification cannot be overstated. The psychological impact of being barred by a pen-stroke rather than a performance on the field can be paralyzing. This incident underscores the need for better mental health support and athlete advocacy within the para-sports community, ensuring that young talents are not broken by the very systems designed to facilitate their participation.
A Call for Systemic Reform in Indian Para-Sports
Nandakumar's plight is a catalyst for a broader conversation regarding systemic reforms. For India to continue its ascent as a powerhouse in para-sports, the administrative framework must evolve. This includes the establishment of more domestic classification centers recognized by international bodies, dedicated funding for classification travel, and a proactive liaison office to handle the complexities of CWG and Paralympic eligibility. The current reactive approach, which leaves athletes to navigate a labyrinth of international requirements on their own, is unsustainable and unfair.
Conclusion: Beyond the Individual Loss
While the immediate loss is Tejas Nandakumar's dream of competing in Glasgow 2026, the broader loss is for the sporting community. When a record holder is sidelined by bureaucracy, it sends a discouraging signal to aspiring para-athletes across the nation. The resolution of this crisis must go beyond a single appeal; it requires a fundamental overhaul of how India manages its para-athletes' administrative journeys. Only then can the nation ensure that its champions are defined by their records on the track or field, rather than their struggles with paperwork.