High jumper Tejaswin Shankar wins New Balance Indoor Grand Prix title, Femke Bol breaks world record

American Noah Lyles won the 60m sprinting event, while Grant Holloway bagged the 60m hurdles title.

High jumper Tejaswin Shankar made a winning start to 2023, clinching the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix title with a leap of 2.26m in Boston, USA, on February 4. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

High jumper Tejaswin Shankar won the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix with a leap of 2.26m in this season’s second World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meeting, in Boston, USA, on Saturday night.

Tejaswin, a Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, delivered a faultless performance, clearing 2.14m, 2.19m, 2.23m and 2.26m on his first attempts before going for three attempts at a new PB of 2.30m, which went in vain.

Tejaswin won the title ahead of Donald Thomas of the Bahamas, the 2007 World Championships and the 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist.

Thomas came up with a jump of 2.23m to settle for second place, while Darryl Sullivan of the USA notched up his Season-Best (SB) indoor leap of 2.19 to finish third.

“Great start to the new year. Excited to be able to compete with the top guys. Thank you @NBIndoorGP,” tweeted Shankar after the victory, with a video of his gold medal-winning jump.

The 24-year-old Indian athlete, who was competing in his first event since graduating from Kansas City University, won his second NCAA title for Kansas State last year.

Meanwhile, the Netherlands’ Femke Bol, competing in her first meet in 2023, broke a 17-year-old world indoor 500m best with a dominant 1:05.63 run.

American Noah Lyles won the 60m sprinting event, while Grant Holloway, extending his indoor sprint hurdles win streak, won the 60m hurdles title.