'I'm devastated': Indian record holder Tejas Nandakumar barred from CWG 2026
Indian swimmer Tejas Nandakumar has been barred from the 2026 Commonwealth Games due to a technicality regarding his para-sport classification status. Despite qualifying on merit, his 'Review-2025' status failed to meet the requirement for a confirmed classification or a 2027 review date.
Why it matters
This highlights the rigid administrative hurdles that can derail the careers of elite para-athletes despite their performance achievements.
NEW DELHI: For Tejas Nandakumar, India's national record holder in the Men's S7 100m backstroke, the past 24 hours have been a whirlwind of disbelief.The 20-year-old from Bengaluru was supposed to compete at the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, starting July 23, and everything had been building towards that moment. The training, the qualifying times, the visa paperwork, even the measurements for his ceremonial kit, had all been completed. When the official list of participants was released on Friday, his name was on it. Twenty-four hours later, everything came apart. Tejas had fully qualified for the Men's 50m Freestyle S7, and his slot had already been accepted.
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