Indian record holder Tejas Nandakumar barred from CWG 2026: 'I'm devastated'
Indian para-swimmer Tejas Nandakumar has been ruled ineligible for the 2026 Commonwealth Games due to a technical classification status issue. Despite qualifying on merit, his 'Review-2025' status failed to meet the event's strict eligibility requirements.
Why it matters
Highlights the often rigid administrative barriers that can derail the careers of elite para-athletes.
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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